Nemanja Vidić vs Raymond Kopa: Stats Compared
Centre-Back, Serbia (born 1981, retired 2016) · Forward, France (born 1931, retired 1967)
Put Nemanja Vidić and Raymond Kopa side by side and you have a genuine generational conversation. Where pure finishing is concerned, this is a shootout between two of the most feared marksmen of their time. By the end Nemanja Vidić had 29 goals from 518 caps and club outings; Raymond Kopa had 150 from 450. Assists were never formally recorded across most of their eras, so the playmaking dimension has to be judged on reputation and highlights rather than hard totals. Nemanja Vidić departs the game with 8 major pieces of silverware, including 5× Premier League (2007–2013); Raymond Kopa with 5, including 3× European Cup (1957, 1958, 1959). Nemanja Vidić scored with a uncompromising that defined his era, while Raymond Kopa's finishing carried a explosive all of its own. Club journeys add another layer, with Nemanja Vidić reaching his representative peak around 2009 across Red Star Belgrade, Spartak Moscow, Manchester United, Inter and Raymond Kopa doing so around 1958 with Angers, Reims, Real Madrid, Reims. Each, in his own way, set a standard the other is measured against.
178 words · comparison angle: goalscoring
Player profiles
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.”
France's first football superstar and 1958 Ballon d'Or winner, Kopa won three straight European Cups alongside Di Stéfano at Real Madrid before returning to lead Reims.
“A diminutive, dazzling dribbler and creator whose vision and close control made him the conductor of every attack he played in.”
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
- 5× Premier League (2007–2013)
- 3× European Cup (1957, 1958, 1959)
- 2× Ligue 1 (1953, 1960)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 2001 Established himself at Red Star Belgrade
- 2005 Reached his defining peak
- 2009 Delivered a landmark season
- 2016 Retired from professional football
- 1949 Professional debut for Angers
- 1957 Won European Cup with Real Madrid
- 1953 Won Ligue 1 with Reims
- 1958 Reached the peak of his powers at Real Madrid
- 1967 Retired after a final spell at Reims
- Finished his career with 150 goals in 450 appearances and 5 major honours. Finished his career with 150 goals in 450 appearances and 5 major honours.
The verdict
Weighing production against honours, Nemanja Vidić takes the verdict — a decisive margin, driven by a weightier trophy cabinet.
Nemanja Vidić edges it (a decisive margin)
