Paul Scholes vs Franco Baresi: Stats Compared
Central Midfielder, England (born 1974, retired 2013) · Sweeper / Centre-Back, Italy (born 1960, retired 1997)
Put Paul Scholes and Franco Baresi side by side and you have a genuine generational conversation. Reputations harden into legacies, and few careers cast longer shadows than these two. Across his senior career Paul Scholes notched 169 goals in 784 appearances (0.22 per game), while Franco Baresi recorded 19 in 800 (0.02 per game). Assists were not reliably tracked for much of their careers, which makes the playmaking comparison an imperfect one; where records exist, Paul Scholes is credited with 75 and Franco Baresi with 0. Paul Scholes departs the game with 17 major pieces of silverware, including 2× UEFA Champions League (1999, 2008); Franco Baresi with 18, including 3× European Cup (1989, 1990, 1994). History will file Paul Scholes under creative greatness and Franco Baresi under elegant greatness — different shelves, same temple. The wider career context matters too: Paul Scholes peaked around 2008 after representing Manchester United, while Franco Baresi's defining level came around 1989 across AC Milan. Rank them how you like — both names are carved into the sport's permanent record.
175 words · comparison angle: legacy
Player profiles
Manchester United midfielder renowned for his passing range and vision; two-time Champions League winner.
“A short-sighted, single-touch midfielder whose passing range was unmatched in his generation.”
AC Milan icon who spent his entire 20-year career at the club; three-time European Cup winner and 1994 World Cup finalist with Italy.
“A peerless sweeper whose reading, tackling and leadership built a defensive dynasty at Milan.”
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× UEFA Champions League (1999, 2008)
- 11× Premier League
- 3× FA Cup (1996, 1999, 2004)
- 1× FIFA Club World Cup (2008)
- 3× European Cup (1989, 1990, 1994)
- 6× Serie A (1979, 1988, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996)
- 4× Supercoppa Italiana
- 3× UEFA Super Cup
- 2× Intercontinental Cup (1989, 1990)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1994 Manchester United debut
- 1996 First Premier League title
- 1999 Treble winner with Manchester United
- 2003 Briefly retired from England duty
- 2008 Second Champions League winner
- 2011 Came out of retirement to help Manchester United
- 2013 Retired for good at Manchester United
- 1977 AC Milan debut aged 17
- 1979 First Scudetto with Milan
- 1980 Stayed at Milan in Serie B after the betting scandal
- 1989 First European Cup with Milan
- 1994 Won the Champions League conceding just 15 goals in 30 league games
- 1997 Retired aged 37 with the number 6 shirt retired in his honour
The verdict
Taking goals, assists, silverware and overall profile together, Paul Scholes takes it by a narrow margin.
Paul Scholes edges it (a narrow margin)
