Wayne Rooney vs Park Ji-sung: Stats Compared
Forward, England (born 1985, retired 2021) · Midfielder, South Korea (born 1981, retired 2014)
Few debates split football fans quite like Wayne Rooney versus Park Ji-sung. They occupied different roles, which makes a like-for-like verdict a careful exercise. By the end Wayne Rooney had 364 goals from 879 caps and club outings; Park Ji-sung had 60 from 550. Add playmaking to the mix and Wayne Rooney laid on 145 goals, Park Ji-sung 60. The honours ledger favours Wayne Rooney with 13 major trophies (1× UEFA Champions League (2008)) against Park Ji-sung's 5 (4× Premier League (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011)). As a forward Wayne Rooney bent the role to a explosive template; as a midfielder, Park Ji-sung redefined it with intelligent authority. Context beyond the headline totals is important: Wayne Rooney's landmark level arrived around 2011 with a career spanning Everton, Manchester United, DC United, Derby County; Park Ji-sung's came around 2008 across Kyoto Purple Sanga, PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United, Queens Park Rangers. The honest conclusion is that comparison enriches appreciation rather than crowns a single winner.
162 words · comparison angle: role
Player profiles
Manchester United's all-time leading scorer with 253 goals; England's second-highest scorer with 53 international goals.
“A powerful, aggressive forward whose relentless pressing, vision and finishing made him a complete team player.”
The first Asian player to win the Champions League and reach a World Cup semi-final, Park was renowned for his tireless work rate and big-game performances for Manchester United.
“A relentless, selfless box-to-box midfielder whose stamina and tactical discipline made him invaluable in the biggest matches.”
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 Champions League (2008)
- 5× Premier League (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013)
- 1× FA Cup (2016)
- 4× EFL Cup (2006, 2009, 2010, 2017)
- 1× UEFA Europa League (2017)
- 1× FIFA Club World Cup (2008)
- 4× Premier League (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2008)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 2002 Everton debut aged 16
- 2004 Signed for Manchester United
- 2004 Scored a hat-trick on his Champions League debut
- 2008 Won the Champions League with Manchester United
- 2010 England's youngest scorer at a World Cup
- 2017 Became Manchester United's all-time top scorer
- 2021 Returned to Derby County as player-manager
- 2000 Professional debut for Kyoto Purple Sanga
- 2007 Won Premier League with Manchester United
- 2008 Won UEFA Champions League with Manchester United
- 2008 Reached the peak of his powers at Manchester United
- 2014 Retired after a final spell at Queens Park Rangers
- Finished his career with 60 goals in 550 appearances and 5 major honours. Finished his career with 60 goals in 550 appearances and 5 major honours.
The verdict
The numbers give Wayne Rooney the lead — a decisive margin, courtesy of a sharper goalscoring record.
Wayne Rooney edges it (a decisive margin)
