Edwin van der Sar vs Andrea Pirlo: Stats Compared
Goalkeeper, Netherlands (born 1970, retired 2011) · Central / Attacking Midfielder, Italy (born 1979, retired 2017)
There is something timeless about weighing Edwin van der Sar against Andrea Pirlo. Strikers are judged on goals, and on that raw currency both men delivered extraordinary returns. By the end Edwin van der Sar had 0 goals from 820 caps and club outings; Andrea Pirlo had 73 from 728. Modern assist data only covers part of their careers, so creativity is hard to compare cleanly — Edwin van der Sar is listed at 0 and Andrea Pirlo at 80 where figures survive. Edwin van der Sar departs the game with 9 major pieces of silverware, including 1× UEFA Champions League (2008); Andrea Pirlo with 13, including 1× FIFA World Cup (2006). Edwin van der Sar scored with a imposing that defined his era, while Andrea Pirlo's finishing carried a intelligent all of its own. Their routes to the top were distinct: Edwin van der Sar built his reputation across Ajax, Juventus, Fulham, Manchester United, peaking around 2008, while Andrea Pirlo reached his defining level around 2006 after spells with Brescia, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Juventus, New York City FC. The honest conclusion is that comparison enriches appreciation rather than crowns a single winner.
194 words · comparison angle: goalscoring
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.”
Italian playmaker and World Cup winner; six-time Serie A champion and two-time Champions League winner.
“A deep-lying regista whose passing range and free-kick craft orchestrated Italy and Juventus for a decade.”
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)
- 1× FIFA World Cup (2006)
- 2× UEFA Champions League (2003, 2007)
- 6× Serie A
- 2× Coppa Italia
- 2× UEFA Super Cup (2003, 2007)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 2000 Established himself at Ajax
- 2004 Reached his defining peak
- 2008 Delivered a landmark season
- 2011 Retired from professional football
- 1995 Brescia debut aged 16
- 1998 Signed for Inter Milan but failed to break through
- 2001 Joined AC Milan and his career took off
- 2006 World Cup winner with Italy
- 2011 Free transfer to Juventus
- 2014 Set a Serie A points record with Juventus
- 2015 Joined MLS side New York City FC
The verdict
Weighing production against honours, Andrea Pirlo takes the verdict — a decisive margin, driven by a sharper goalscoring record.
Andrea Pirlo edges it (a decisive margin)
