Roberto Baggio vs Paul Ince: Stats Compared
Attacking Midfielder, Italy (born 1967, retired 2004) · Central Midfielder, England (born 1967, retired 2006)
Roberto Baggio and Paul Ince represent two answers to the same question: how do you define a great? Position shapes everything in football, and these two fulfilled very different briefs. Career output puts Roberto Baggio at 318 goals in 602 games, with Paul Ince at 90 in 650. Modern assist data only covers part of their careers, so creativity is hard to compare cleanly — Roberto Baggio is listed at 0 and Paul Ince at 60 where figures survive. Roberto Baggio departs the game with 9 major pieces of silverware, including 1× UEFA Cup (1993); Paul Ince with 4, including 2× Premier League (1993, 1994). As a attacking midfielder Roberto Baggio bent the role to a creative template; as a central midfielder, Paul Ince redefined it with intelligent authority. Club journeys add another layer, with Roberto Baggio reaching his representative peak around 1993 across Vicenza, Fiorentina, Juventus, Milan, Bologna, Inter and Paul Ince doing so around 1994 with West Ham United, Manchester United, Inter Milan, Liverpool, Middlesbrough, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Swindon Town. Few pairings invite such entrenched disagreement, and fewer still deserve it this much.
184 words · comparison angle: role
Player profiles
Roberto Baggio is an Italian former professional footballer who mainly played as a second striker, or as an attacking midfielder. He is also the former president of the technical sector of the Italian Football Federation. A highly skillful creative playmaker and set piece specialist, renowned for his curling free-kicks, dribbling skills, and goalscoring, Baggio is regarded by many as one of the greatest players of all time.
“A delicate playmaker with velvet touch, disguised passing and an instinct for decisive moments.”
The first Black player to captain England, Ince was a combative, driving midfielder at the heart of Manchester United's early Premier League dominance.
“An aggressive, all-action midfielder whose tackling and late runs into the box made him a formidable box-to-box presence.”
Head-to-head stats
Career goals by season
Representative career seasons — goals per season for each player across their documented clubs.
Attribute radar
Attribute ratings are peak-era, 0–100. Different positions naturally skew the profile.
Attribute comparison
Trophy breakdown
- 1× UEFA Cup (1993)
- 2× Premier League (1993, 1994)
- 2× FA Cup (1990, 1994)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1985 Established himself at Vicenza
- 1989 Reached his defining peak
- 1993 Delivered a landmark season
- 2004 Retired from professional football
- 1986 Professional debut for West Ham United
- 1993 Won Premier League with Manchester United
- 1990 Won FA Cup with Manchester United
- 1994 Reached the peak of his powers at Manchester United
- 2006 Retired after a final spell at Swindon Town
- Finished his career with 90 goals in 650 appearances and 4 major honours. Finished his career with 90 goals in 650 appearances and 4 major honours.
The verdict
The numbers give Roberto Baggio the lead — a decisive margin, courtesy of a sharper goalscoring record.
Roberto Baggio edges it (a decisive margin)
