Zico vs Bixente Lizarazu: Stats Compared
Attacking Midfielder, Brazil (born 1953, retired 1994) · Left-Back, France (born 1969, retired 2006)
The Zico–Bixente Lizarazu comparison is one of those fixtures of footballing folklore. Strip away the highlights and the medal count tells its own story for each man. The raw numbers read 525 goals in 732 outings for Zico (0.72/game), versus 15 in 600 for Bixente Lizarazu (0.03/game). Modern assist data only covers part of their careers, so creativity is hard to compare cleanly — Zico is listed at 0 and Bixente Lizarazu at 30 where figures survive. Zico departs the game with 9 major pieces of silverware, including 4× Campeonato Brasileiro Série A; Bixente Lizarazu with 7, including 1× FIFA World Cup (1998). One lifted trophies through incisive reliability, the other through resolute moments that decided finals. The wider career context matters too: Zico peaked around 1981 after representing Flamengo, Udinese, Kashima Antlers, while Bixente Lizarazu's defining level came around 2001 across Bordeaux, Athletic Bilbao, Bayern Munich, Marseille. Rank them how you like — both names are carved into the sport's permanent record.
163 words · comparison angle: trophies
Player profiles
Arthur Antunes Coimbra, better known as Zico, is a Brazilian football coach and former player who played as an attacking midfielder. A creative playmaker with excellent technical skills, vision and an eye for goal, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, and also considered one of the best free kick specialists in history. According to one estimate, Zico has scored the most direct free kicks in history, with 101 goals including friendlies, among which 62 are verified in official games.
“A free-kick artist and incisive number ten whose final pass arrived before defenders could react.”
A world judo champion off the pitch, Lizarazu was one of the finest left-backs of his generation, winning the World Cup, European Championship and Champions League with Bayern Munich.
“A compact, combative full-back whose low centre of gravity and stamina let him bomb up and down the flank all match.”
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
- 4× Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
- 1× FIFA World Cup (1998)
- 1× UEFA European Championship (2000)
- 4× Bundesliga (1999, 2000, 2001, 2003)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2001)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1973 Established himself at Flamengo
- 1977 Reached his defining peak
- 1981 Delivered a landmark season
- 1994 Retired from professional football
- 1988 Professional debut for Bordeaux
- 1998 Won FIFA World Cup with Bayern Munich
- 2001 Won UEFA Champions League with Bayern Munich
- 2001 Reached the peak of his powers at Bayern Munich
- 2006 Retired after a final spell at Marseille
- Finished his career with 15 goals in 600 appearances and 7 major honours. Finished his career with 15 goals in 600 appearances and 7 major honours.
The verdict
The numbers give Zico the lead — a decisive margin, courtesy of a sharper goalscoring record.
Zico edges it (a decisive margin)
