There have been few debates in football as compelling as this one. Zinedine Zidane, the elegant French maestro who controlled games through sheer technical superiority. Ronaldinho, the Brazilian magician who played football as if it were a performance. Two of the greatest players of their generation – here is how they compare.
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Career stats by club
Zinedine Zidane
| Club | Apps | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cannes | 71 | 6 | 15 |
| Bordeaux | 179 | 39 | 24 |
| Juventus | 212 | 31 | 54 |
| Real Madrid | 227 | 49 | 67 |
| Total | 689 | 125 | 160 |
Ronaldinho
| Club | Apps | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grêmio | 73 | 27 | 9 |
| PSG | 77 | 25 | 19 |
| Barcelona | 207 | 94 | 71 |
| AC Milan | 55 | 26 | 27 |
| Flamengo | 72 | 28 | 17 |
| Atlético Mineiro | 85 | 27 | 30 |
| Querétaro | 29 | 8 | 8 |
| Fluminense | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 647 | 235 | 181 |
Peak seasons
Zidane’s finest individual season came in 2001-02 at Real Madrid. He scored the most iconic goal in Champions League final history – a left-footed volley of breathtaking technique against Bayer Leverkusen in Glasgow. He won the Champions League, La Liga, the FIFA Best award and was named UEFA Club Footballer of the Year. A season that defined a career.
Ronaldinho’s peak came in 2004-05 and 2005-06 at Barcelona. He won back-to-back FIFA Best awards and the 2005 Ballon d’Or. He scored a free kick at the Bernabeu so brilliant that Real Madrid supporters gave him a standing ovation – one of the most remarkable moments in football history. Barcelona won the Champions League in 2006 with Ronaldinho as their talisman.
Trophies
Zidane won the World Cup in 1998, Euro 2000, the Champions League, two La Liga titles and two Serie A titles. His record €77.5 million transfer to Real Madrid in 2001 was the highest in history at the time.
Ronaldinho won the World Cup in 2002, the Champions League in 2006, two La Liga titles and the Copa Libertadores with Atlético Mineiro in 2013. His career lasted longer but his peak was shorter.
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International
Zidane earned 108 caps for France and scored 31 goals, including two headers in the 1998 World Cup final against Brazil – the most important goals of his career. He led France to the 2006 World Cup final before his infamous headbutt on Marco Materazzi ended his career on an unforgettable note.
Ronaldinho earned 97 caps for Brazil and scored 33 international goals. His performance at the 2002 World Cup – including a stunning free kick against England that lobbed David Seaman – announced him to the world.
Two very different players. Zidane was the definition of elegance and control. Ronaldinho was the definition of joy. Both changed football – just in very different ways.
Photo: REUTERS/Charles Platiau
