Edwin van der Sar vs Cuauhtémoc Blanco: Stats Compared
Goalkeeper, Netherlands (born 1970, retired 2011) · Forward, Mexico (born 1973, retired 2014)
Set Edwin van der Sar alongside Cuauhtémoc Blanco and the numbers start an argument of their own. Strip away the highlights and the medal count tells its own story for each man. Edwin van der Sar finishes with 0 career goals from 820 games — a 0.00 strike rate — against Cuauhtémoc Blanco's 250 from 700 at 0.36 per match. Assists were not reliably tracked for much of their careers, which makes the playmaking comparison an imperfect one; where records exist, Edwin van der Sar is credited with 0 and Cuauhtémoc Blanco with 100. Edwin van der Sar departs the game with 9 major pieces of silverware, including 1× UEFA Champions League (2008); Cuauhtémoc Blanco with 4, including 3× Liga MX (1992, 2002, 2005). One lifted trophies through commanding reliability, the other through clinical moments that decided finals. Their routes to the top were distinct: Edwin van der Sar built his reputation across Ajax, Juventus, Fulham, Manchester United, peaking around 2008, while Cuauhtémoc Blanco reached his defining level around 1998 after spells with América, Chicago Fire, Puebla FC. Few pairings invite such entrenched disagreement, and fewer still deserve it this much.
191 words · comparison angle: trophies
Player profiles
Edwin van der Sar is a Dutch football executive and former player. Widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, he was most recently the chief executive of Eredivisie club Ajax. Van der Sar began his senior playing career with Ajax in the early 1990s; he is considered to be a member of the club's golden generation and was part of the team that won the UEFA Champions League in 1995.
“A tall, composed goalkeeper who made difficult saves look quiet and simple.”
A flamboyant Mexican playmaker famed for inventing the 'Cuauhtemiña' skill move, Blanco starred at three World Cups across a 20-year career.
“A stocky, combative forward with outrageous flair, best remembered for hopping the ball between two defenders in a signature dribble.”
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× UEFA Champions League (2008)
- 3× Liga MX (1992, 2002, 2005)
- 1× CONCACAF Champions' Cup (1992)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 2000 Established himself at Ajax
- 2004 Reached his defining peak
- 2008 Delivered a landmark season
- 2011 Retired from professional football
- 1992 Professional debut for América
- 1992 Won Liga MX with América
- 1992 Won CONCACAF Champions' Cup with América
- 1998 Reached the peak of his powers at América
- 2014 Retired after a final spell at Puebla FC
- Finished his career with 250 goals in 700 appearances and 4 major honours. Finished his career with 250 goals in 700 appearances and 4 major honours.
The verdict
Taking goals, assists, silverware and overall profile together, Edwin van der Sar takes it by a narrow margin.
Edwin van der Sar edges it (a narrow margin)
