Hristo Stoichkov vs Park Ji-sung: Stats Compared
Left Winger, Bulgaria (born 1966, retired 2003) · Midfielder, South Korea (born 1981, retired 2014)
Ask any fan to rank Hristo Stoichkov above or below Park Ji-sung and you will get a passionate answer. Their jobs on the pitch were not the same, yet both redefined what their role could be. Across his senior career Hristo Stoichkov notched 384 goals in 672 appearances (0.57 per game), while Park Ji-sung recorded 60 in 550 (0.11 per game). Assists were not reliably tracked for much of their careers, which makes the playmaking comparison an imperfect one; where records exist, Hristo Stoichkov is credited with 0 and Park Ji-sung with 60. The honours ledger favours Hristo Stoichkov with 9 major trophies (1× European Cup (1992)) against Park Ji-sung's 5 (4× Premier League (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011)). The left winger duties of Hristo Stoichkov leaned flair-driven; the midfielder responsibilities of Park Ji-sung leaned silky. Context beyond the headline totals is important: Hristo Stoichkov's landmark level arrived around 1994 with a career spanning CSKA Sofia, Barcelona, Parma, Chicago Fire; Park Ji-sung's came around 2008 across Kyoto Purple Sanga, PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United, Queens Park Rangers. Rank them how you like — both names are carved into the sport's permanent record.
190 words · comparison angle: role
Player profiles
Hristo Stoichkov Stoichkov (Bulgarian: Христо Стоичков pronounced ; born 8 February 1966) is a Bulgarian former professional footballer and current football commentator for TUDN. A prolific forward, he is widely regarded as the greatest Bulgarian footballer of all time. He was the runner-up for the FIFA World Player of the Year award in 1992 and 1994 and received the Ballon d'Or in 1994.
“A fierce left-footed attacker who brought aggression, curl and relentless competitive edge.”
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× European Cup (1992)
- 4× Premier League (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2008)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1986 Established himself at CSKA Sofia
- 1990 Reached his defining peak
- 1994 Delivered a landmark season
- 2003 Retired from professional football
- 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
Taking goals, assists, silverware and overall profile together, Hristo Stoichkov takes it by a decisive margin.
Hristo Stoichkov edges it (a decisive margin)
