Robin van Persie vs Nemanja Vidić: Stats Compared
Striker, Netherlands (born 1983, retired 2019) · Centre-Back, Serbia (born 1981, retired 2016)
Line up Robin van Persie next to Nemanja Vidić and the contrasts come quickly. Legacy is the only real measure that outlives the numbers, and both have staked towering claims. Across his senior career Robin van Persie notched 322 goals in 694 appearances (0.46 per game), while Nemanja Vidić recorded 29 in 518 (0.06 per game). Because assists were not systematically tracked for much of their time, that side of the comparison rests on the footage that survives. Trophy counts give Robin van Persie 9 and Nemanja Vidić 8, with 1× Premier League (2013) and 5× Premier League (2007–2013) the standout honours respectively. History will file Robin van Persie under flair-driven greatness and Nemanja Vidić under rugged greatness — different shelves, same temple. Context beyond the headline totals is important: Robin van Persie's landmark level arrived around 2012 with a career spanning Feyenoord, Arsenal, Manchester United, Fenerbahçe; Nemanja Vidić's came around 2009 across Red Star Belgrade, Spartak Moscow, Manchester United, Inter. Greatness, in cases like this, is rarely a zero-sum affair.
171 words · comparison angle: legacy
Player profiles
Robin van Persie is a Dutch football coach and former professional footballer. He last served as the head coach of Eredivisie club Feyenoord. He is regarded as one of the best strikers of his generation and was known for his technique, ball control, and vision.
“A left-footed artist whose volleys, movement and aerial technique made difficult finishes routine.”
Nemanja Vidić is a Serbian former professional footballer who played as a centre-back. Widely considered as one of the greatest defenders of all time, Vidić is best known for his time at Manchester United, where he won 15 trophies and served as club captain. He is one of only five players to win the Premier League Player of the Season award twice, alongside Thierry Henry, Kevin De Bruyne, Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah.
“A fearless centre-back who dominated the air and treated every duel as a personal contest.”
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 (2013)
- 5× Premier League (2007–2013)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 2004 Established himself at Feyenoord
- 2008 Reached his defining peak
- 2012 Delivered a landmark season
- 2019 Retired from professional football
- 2001 Established himself at Red Star Belgrade
- 2005 Reached his defining peak
- 2009 Delivered a landmark season
- 2016 Retired from professional football
The verdict
The numbers give Robin van Persie the lead — a clear margin, courtesy of a sharper goalscoring record.
Robin van Persie edges it (a clear margin)
