Carlos Tevez vs Paul Scholes: Stats Compared
Striker, Argentina (born 1984, retired 2021) · Central Midfielder, England (born 1974, retired 2013)
Line up Carlos Tevez next to Paul Scholes and the contrasts come quickly. Beyond the numbers, each man brought a singular aesthetic to the pitch. Across his senior career Carlos Tevez notched 280 goals in 700 appearances (0.40 per game), while Paul Scholes recorded 169 in 784 (0.22 per game). Creativity tells a story too: 90 assists for Carlos Tevez against 75 for Paul Scholes. Trophy counts give Carlos Tevez 5 and Paul Scholes 17, with 1× Premier League (2012) and 2× UEFA Champions League (1999, 2008) the standout honours respectively. Stylistically Carlos Tevez was mercurial where Paul Scholes was silky — two vocabularies of the same sport. Their routes to the top were distinct: Carlos Tevez built his reputation across Boca Juniors, Corinthians, West Ham United, Manchester United, Manchester City, Juventus, Boca Juniors, Shanghai Shenhua, Boca Juniors, peaking around 2011, while Paul Scholes reached his defining level around 2008 after spells with Manchester United. Rank them how you like — both names are carved into the sport's permanent record.
170 words · comparison angle: style
Player profiles
A tenacious, street-smart Argentine striker known as 'El Apache', beloved for his relentless work rate and hunger for goals.
“A combative, low-centre-of-gravity forward who pressed relentlessly and thrived on scrappy, instinctive finishes.”
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.”
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× Premier League (2012)
- 2× Serie A (2014, 2015)
- 1× Copa Libertadores (2003)
- 1× Argentine Primera División (2003)
- 2× UEFA Champions League (1999, 2008)
- 11× Premier League
- 3× FA Cup (1996, 1999, 2004)
- 1× FIFA Club World Cup (2008)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 2001 Professional debut for Boca Juniors
- 2012 Won Premier League with Manchester City
- 2003 Won Argentine Primera División with Boca Juniors
- 2011 Reached the peak of his powers at Manchester City
- 2021 Retired after a final spell at Boca Juniors
- Finished his career with 280 goals in 700 appearances and 5 major honours. Finished his career with 280 goals in 700 appearances and 5 major honours.
- 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
The verdict
Reasonable people will disagree, but Paul Scholes wins out by a decisive margin on the weight of a weightier trophy cabinet.
Paul Scholes edges it (a decisive margin)
