Rui Costa vs Edgar Davids: Stats Compared
Attacking Midfielder, Portugal (born 1972, retired 2008) · Defensive Midfielder, Netherlands (born 1973, retired 2011)
When Rui Costa and Edgar Davids are mentioned in the same breath, opinions rarely stay quiet. Separated by their years at the top, each defined the football of their own generation. The raw numbers read 90 goals in 550 outings for Rui Costa (0.16/game), versus 45 in 600 for Edgar Davids (0.08/game). Creativity tells a story too: 100 assists for Rui Costa against 40 for Edgar Davids. In major honours Rui Costa collected 4 — headlined by 2× Coppa Italia (1996, 2001) — whereas Edgar Davids amassed 4, led by 1× UEFA Champions League (1995). Across the turn of the millennium and the turn of the millennium respectively, their silky and dictatorial styles captured the spirit of very different footballing times. Context beyond the headline totals is important: Rui Costa's landmark level arrived around 2000 with a career spanning Benfica, Fiorentina, AC Milan, Benfica; Edgar Davids's came around 2000 across Ajax, AC Milan, Juventus, Barcelona, Internazionale, Tottenham Hotspur, Ajax, Crystal Palace. Each, in his own way, set a standard the other is measured against.
174 words · comparison angle: era
Player profiles
A wonderfully elegant Portuguese playmaker, Rui Costa was the creative fulcrum of Fiorentina's late-90s side before winning the Champions League with AC Milan.
“A visionary, effortlessly stylish playmaker celebrated for his weighted through-balls and elegant range of passing.”
Nicknamed 'The Pitbull' for his relentless tackling, Davids wore his trademark wraparound goggles and was one of the most feared ball-winners in Europe during Juventus's late-1990s dominance.
“An aggressive, tireless ball-winner whose combativeness and surprising technical quality made him a complete midfield destroyer.”
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
- 2× Coppa Italia (1996, 2001)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2003)
- 1× Serie A (2004)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (1995)
- 3× Serie A (1998, 2002, 2003)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1990 Professional debut for Benfica
- 1996 Won Coppa Italia with Fiorentina
- 2004 Won Serie A with AC Milan
- 2000 Reached the peak of his powers at Fiorentina
- 2008 Retired after a final spell at Benfica
- Finished his career with 90 goals in 550 appearances and 4 major honours. Finished his career with 90 goals in 550 appearances and 4 major honours.
- 1991 Professional debut for Ajax
- 1995 Won UEFA Champions League with Ajax
- 1998 Won Serie A with Juventus
- 2000 Reached the peak of his powers at Juventus
- 2011 Retired after a final spell at Crystal Palace
- Finished his career with 45 goals in 600 appearances and 4 major honours. Finished his career with 45 goals in 600 appearances and 4 major honours.
The verdict
Taking goals, assists, silverware and overall profile together, Edgar Davids takes it by a clear margin.
Edgar Davids edges it (a clear margin)
