Paul Scholes vs Bastian Schweinsteiger: Stats Compared
Central Midfielder, England (born 1974, retired 2013) · Central Midfielder, Germany (born 1984, retired 2019)
Line up Paul Scholes next to Bastian Schweinsteiger and the contrasts come quickly. 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 Bastian Schweinsteiger recorded 99 in 657 (0.15 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 Bastian Schweinsteiger with 0. In major honours Paul Scholes collected 17 — headlined by 2× UEFA Champions League (1999, 2008) — whereas Bastian Schweinsteiger amassed 18, led by 1× FIFA World Cup (2014). Their legacies diverge in texture: Paul Scholes is remembered as silky, Bastian Schweinsteiger as orchestrating. Context beyond the headline totals is important: Paul Scholes's landmark level arrived around 2008 with a career spanning Manchester United; Bastian Schweinsteiger's came around 2014 across Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Chicago Fire. Rank them how you like — both names are carved into the sport's permanent record.
174 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.”
German midfielder who won the 2014 World Cup and eight Bundesliga titles with Bayern Munich.
“A converted winger turned midfield general whose tireless running and passing drove Bayern and Germany.”
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)
- 1× FIFA World Cup (2014)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2013)
- 8× Bundesliga
- 7× DFB-Pokal
- 1× FA Cup (2016)
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
- 2002 Bayern Munich debut
- 2006 World Cup third-place on home soil
- 2010 Bayern Champions League final defeat in Madrid
- 2013 Won the treble under Jupp Heynckes
- 2014 World Cup winner, scored in the final bloodied
- 2015 Joined Manchester United
- 2017 Joined Chicago Fire in MLS
The verdict
Weighing production, silverware and profile, the two finish within a whisker of each other. Call it a respectful draw — greatness of this calibre resists a single winner.
Too close to call — a respectful draw
