Patrick Vieira vs Daniele De Rossi: Stats Compared
Central Midfielder, France (born 1976, retired 2011) · Central Midfielder, Italy (born 1983, retired 2019)
Patrick Vieira and Daniele De Rossi represent two answers to the same question: how do you define a great? Strikers are judged on goals, and on that raw currency both men delivered extraordinary returns. Patrick Vieira finishes with 68 career goals from 737 games — a 0.09 strike rate — against Daniele De Rossi's 65 from 700 at 0.09 per match. Assists were not reliably tracked for much of their careers, which makes the playmaking comparison an imperfect one; where records exist, Patrick Vieira is credited with 0 and Daniele De Rossi with 60. Patrick Vieira departs the game with 15 major pieces of silverware, including 1× FIFA World Cup (1998); Daniele De Rossi with 3, including 1× FIFA World Cup (2006). Patrick Vieira scored with a creative that defined his era, while Daniele De Rossi's finishing carried a silky all of its own. Their routes to the top were distinct: Patrick Vieira built his reputation across Cannes, AC Milan, Arsenal, Juventus, Inter Milan, Manchester City, peaking around 2004, while Daniele De Rossi reached his defining level around 2013 after spells with Roma. Arguments will run and run, which is exactly why the matchup endures.
195 words · comparison angle: goalscoring
Player profiles
Arsenal captain who led the Invincibles to the 2003-04 Premier League title; World Cup and Euro winner with France.
“A towering, leggy box-to-box enforcer who combined physicality with technical security in midfield.”
A one-club legend and 2006 World Cup winner, De Rossi embodied Roma's midfield for nearly two decades, combining ferocious tackling with a superb range of passing.
“A commanding, technically excellent deep-lying midfielder who mixed hard tackling with elegant long-range distribution.”
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× FIFA World Cup (1998)
- 1× UEFA European Championship (2000)
- 2× FIFA Confederations Cup (2001, 2003)
- 3× Premier League (1998, 2002, 2004)
- 4× Serie A (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009)
- 4× FA Cup (1998, 2002, 2003, 2005)
- 1× FIFA World Cup (2006)
- 2× Coppa Italia (2007, 2008)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1994 Cannes debut
- 1996 Joined AC Milan for limited game time
- 1996 Signed for Arsenal
- 1998 World Cup winner with France
- 2001 Succeeded Tony Adams as Arsenal captain
- 2005 Left Arsenal for Juventus
- 2011 Retired at Manchester City
- 2001 Professional debut for Roma
- 2006 Won FIFA World Cup with Roma
- 2007 Won Coppa Italia with Roma
- 2013 Reached the peak of his powers at Roma
- 2019 Retired after a final spell at Roma
- Finished his career with 65 goals in 700 appearances and 3 major honours. Finished his career with 65 goals in 700 appearances and 3 major honours.
The verdict
The numbers give Patrick Vieira the lead — a decisive margin, courtesy of a weightier trophy cabinet.
Patrick Vieira edges it (a decisive margin)
