Zico vs Teddy Sheringham: Stats Compared
Attacking Midfielder, Brazil (born 1953, retired 1994) · Striker, England (born 1966, retired 2008)
There is something timeless about weighing Zico against Teddy Sheringham. Legacy is the only real measure that outlives the numbers, and both have staked towering claims. Zico finishes with 525 career goals from 732 games — a 0.72 strike rate — against Teddy Sheringham's 320 from 900 at 0.36 per match. Modern assist data only covers part of their careers, so creativity is hard to compare cleanly — Zico is listed at 0 and Teddy Sheringham at 130 where figures survive. Trophy counts give Zico 9 and Teddy Sheringham 4, with 4× Campeonato Brasileiro Série A and 1× UEFA Champions League (1999) the standout honours respectively. History will file Zico under silky greatness and Teddy Sheringham under ruthless greatness — different shelves, same temple. The wider career context matters too: Zico peaked around 1981 after representing Flamengo, Udinese, Kashima Antlers, while Teddy Sheringham's defining level came around 1999 across Millwall, Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Portsmouth, West Ham United, Colchester United. Rank them how you like — both names are carved into the sport's permanent record.
179 words · comparison angle: legacy
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 cerebral, late-developing striker, Sheringham scored the injury-time equaliser in Manchester United's 1999 Champions League final and remains the Premier League's oldest ever goalscorer.
“An intelligent, deep-dropping forward whose clever hold-up play and vision created space for quicker strike partners.”
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× UEFA Champions League (1999)
- 2× Premier League (1999, 2000)
- 1× FA Cup (1999)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1973 Established himself at Flamengo
- 1977 Reached his defining peak
- 1981 Delivered a landmark season
- 1994 Retired from professional football
- 1984 Professional debut for Millwall
- 1999 Won UEFA Champions League with Manchester United
- 1999 Won FA Cup with Manchester United
- 1999 Reached the peak of his powers at Manchester United
- 2008 Retired after a final spell at Colchester United
- Finished his career with 320 goals in 900 appearances and 4 major honours. Finished his career with 320 goals in 900 appearances and 4 major honours.
The verdict
Taking goals, assists, silverware and overall profile together, Zico takes it by a decisive margin.
Zico edges it (a decisive margin)
