Pirlo for me. He is the most complete passer of the ball I've ever seen. And he is more 'direct' than the Spaniard.

He are some stats from whoscored.com. For those who are interested.

All stats are from the 2011-2012 season. (league only)

Average passes per game.
Xavi 93.8
Pirlo 86.4

Xavi averaged more passes a game than anyone in the 'top 5 leagues' (England, Spain, Italy, Germany, France)

Pirlo averaged the second most.

Passing success rate.
Xavi 92.4%
Pirlo 86.4%

'Key Passes, per game' ( a pass before a shot)
Xavi 2.1
Pirlo 3.4

Pirlo is the second highest in the top 5 leagues, when it comes to 'Key Passes', behind only, Nene, of PSG. Who averages 3.7

Accurate crosses per game
Xavi 0.8
Pirlo 2.5

Pirlo is joint third, in the major leagues, when it comes to accurate crosses per game.

Accurate 'Long Balls' per game
Xavi 7.1
Pirlo 11.2

Pirlo is the second highest, and highest off any outfield player in the 5 major EU leagues here, only Borussia M.Gladbach keeper Ter Stegen, averages more, 12.4.

Accurate through balls per game
Xavi 0.6
Pirlo 0.9

Pirlo is joint third, in the 5 leagues, only behind Totti & Messi, 1.6 & 1.5 respectively, he is joint with Ibrahimovic, on 0.9

Assists
Xavi 7
Pirlo 13

Pirlo was 6th out of the top 5 leagues. Behind, Ozil on 17. Hazard & Messi on 16. Di Maria & David Silva on 15.

Kizu wrote:I would choose Gatusso-Pirlo-Seedorf over Xavi-Busquets-Iniesta anyway.

Its good to know you watch football...

Cotes wrote:1 goal + 1 assist for Pirlo...
............................... xavi

Wow. Good to know you watch football...
Xavi was brilliant for Spain, two games in a row. Pirlo was chasing Xavi's shadow in the first game and just dominated the midfield with co. I can't really see what Spain could be without Xavi...

paxtonpale wrote:

Cotes wrote:1 goal + 1 assist for Pirlo...
............................... xavi

Wow. Good to know you watch football...
Xavi was brilliant for Spain, two games in a row. Pirlo was chasing Xavi's shadow in the first game and just dominated the midfield with co. I can't really see what Spain could be without Xavi...

You should start watching football.

I have. Pirlo was good so was Xavi. Neither one was better than the other.

paxtonpale wrote:I have. Pirlo was good so was Xavi. Neither one was better than the other.

that's not what the stats say...
I'm gonna go with what I can see on paper & I can't see tiki-taka & "attempted" assisted on paper

Cotes wrote:

paxtonpale wrote:I have. Pirlo was good so was Xavi. Neither one was better than the other.

that's not what the stats say...
I'm gonna go with what I can see on paper & I can't see tiki-taka & "attempted" assisted on paper

That stat says that Silva has been better than Iniesta on this Euro and yet we who watched Spain vs Italy and Spain vs Ireland knows that that is bs..

You guys are bunch of hypocrites, when jiospe puts a stats that say Messi is better than Ronaldo you just jump on and say that stats don't lie, and now that stats say the Pirlo is better than Xavi you say stats are misleading

Also, anyone who says that Xavi outshined Pirlo in the Spain vs Italy are extremely stupid or extremely biased, yet also again Pirlo was the most influential; having an assist and dozen other chances created during the game compared to Xavi who just kept possession.

Potential wrote:You guys are bunch of hypocrites, when jiospe puts a stats that say Messi is better than Ronaldo you just jump on and say that stats don't lie, and now that stats say the Pirlo is better than Xavi you say stats are misleading

Also, anyone who says that Xavi outshined Pirlo in the Spain vs Italy are extremely stupid or extremely biased, yet also again Pirlo was the most influential; having an assist and dozen other chances created during the game compared to Xavi who just kept possession.

I have never used stat to say that Messi is better, infact I have repeatedly said that stat is useless when you are comparing players, because other wise one of the greatest player ever, Zidane, would be just a mediocre player. My main arguement for Messi>>>>Ronaldo is their performance that they put up. While Ronaldo is mostly about goals, Messi is not.

Now there are other barca fans who have used stats to prove that Messi is better but then those have never said that stat is a BS way to compare players so they aint either a hypocrite.

Yeah, Xavi did just keep possesion thats why he made the most key passes, again im not saying that Xavi is better using stats im just showing you that he did infact not just keep possesion but did infact also create alot of chances.

Xavi is better imo.

I think Xavi is very important, and he doesn't get the stats that you guys look for, much like zidane wasn't the greatest guy to get impressive stats but was easily the best player of his generation.

Xavi does so much simple things right that it's almost mechanical, he gives the team so much energy in defence and attack by plainly keeping possession so well and always being available.

I admit he's not the most beautiful artist to watch but he is the most effective

Why are you guys talking about Xavi and defense in the same sentence?



(Ramires walks right next to him)


(Look how he chases Pirlo like the lil flop he is)


Pirlo is a defensive midfielder, Xavi doesn't help the defense AT ALL.

Xavi (Spain) has made the most inaccurate through balls in EURO 2012, with 7.

Just a random fact.

When you average 150 passes a game, more than double anyone in his team, it's only natural that you would miss some... I'm sure as a % of total passes or of total through balls he compares quite favorably.

BarrileteCosmico wrote:When you average 150 passes a game, more than double anyone in his team, it's only natural that you would miss some... I'm sure as a % of total passes or of total through balls he compares quite favorably.

Accurate/Total through balls:
XAVI:
LA LIGA - 18/66 - 0.6 accurate through balls per match.
CL - 5/19 - 0.6 accurate through balls per match.
PIRLO:
SERIE A - 33/67 - 0.9 accurate through balls per match.

Accurate/Longballs:
PIRLO:
SERIE A - 418/488 - 11.2 accurate long ball per match
XAVI:
LA LIGA 220/238 - 7.1 accurate long ball per match

Just saying..

Pirlo is a football legend

Xavi is a Barca legend.

'nuf said.

too bad xavi is a barcelona player, i'm sure if he wasn't playing for the most hated team of his era more people would rate him higher than pirlo

anyway imo there's not much to separate them... pirlo is probably the better passer but from what i've seen he needs a lot more support from other midfielders, and he gets caught on the ball shockingly often, though that's probably just a recent issue... just in the euro games, he was giving the ball away very often when pressured, that ballerina twirl of his doesn't always work

though i have to admit i can't take pirlo too seriously since he looks like a menopausal woman

Xavi is one of the best 'ballers the world has seen. Some of the comments are so stupid in this thread though.

Xavi is a football legend.

Enough Said.

kiranr wrote:Xavi is one of the best 'ballers the world has seen. Some of the comments are so stupid in this thread though.

Xavi is a football legend.

Enough Said.

From Barca Fans mostly

sportsczy wrote:Pirlo is a football legend

Xavi is a Barca legend.

'nuf said.

Aye, because Xavi was'nt the brains behind the Spanish team that won the Euros and the World Cup and has'nt been in the TOP 3 for Balon D'or on many occasions.

He is'nt reverred world wide by many neutral's as one of the best regista's to ever lace a pair of boots.

It was someone who happens to look like Xavi although has superior skill.

This Mystery Man

Surag wrote:

kiranr wrote:Xavi is one of the best 'ballers the world has seen. Some of the comments are so stupid in this thread though.

Xavi is a football legend.

Enough Said.

From Barca Fans mostly

There are twice as many fans over Barca fans who have consistently spewed bull in this thread.

Like look at the Xavi is a Barca legend quote. It is as stupid as it gets.

sportsczy wrote:Pirlo is a football legend

Xavi is a Barca legend.

'nuf said.

the man won literally everything

I think Iniesta is an absolute goat and there's no doubt about it. But I put Xavi in the same category as David Villa... which is 4 years of being among the best in football.

I think Xavi is very good and deserves praise. But to call me one of the best ever or a legend of world football... come on.

Very good players all of them. But you can't just look at a 3-4 year window and say "football legend", which i know is hard for most of you since you're so young. 4 years is like 20-25% of your lives lol.

Xavi has only been considered WC for 4 years now. Before that, he was good... but nothing great.

Not in the conversation with Pirlo who has been on top of his game for a good 8 years now. Another 2 years to go for Xavi to reach that level imo.

What is with all this 4 years, 8 years calculation? Xavi has been absolute goat for over 4 years now. And he has been playing the same way all through his career. The results did not come and people just did not notice him as much because teams were not built around him. But the minute a coach came and said Xavi is going to control the midfield for me, he has been GOAT.

Absolute world football legend if there was any.

Pirlo on top of his game for 8 years? sorry but thats rubbish..... he declined massively between 2007 and 2011.... yes he came back to the top this season but before then he fell well below his usual level..... i mean f*cking Alonso bossed him twice in that period.

BTW Ronaldinho is still considered a legend despite only being at the top for 3 years max.... I am sorry this is all rubbish to put Xavi down.

Fact is Xavi has won everything there is to win in football and being the brain's of that success as well not like he was tagging along others success he was one of the main reasons Spain and Barca won so much....

Have'nt Madrid fans been saying the last few seasons they cant wait till Xavi retires? enough said...

Also last time i checked 25% of 22 years is'nt 4 years

Also Iniesta has been WC for less time than Xavi has so well done for contradicting yourself

Xavi and Pirlo are both 2 of the best regista's to ever play the game anyone that puts such a massive gap between the two is quite frankly a fanboy.

Great Leader Sprucenuce wrote:Pirlo on top of his game for 8 years? sorry but thats rubbish..... he declined massively between 2007 and 2011.... yes he came back to the top this season but before then he fell well below his usual level..... i mean f*cking Alonso bossed him twice in that period.

BTW Ronaldinho is still considered a legend despite only being at the top for 3 years max.... I am sorry this is all rubbish to put Xavi down.

Fact is Xavi has won everything there is to win in football and being the brain's of that success as well not like he was tagging along others success he was one of the main reasons Spain and Barca won so much....

Have'nt Madrid fans been saying the last few seasons they cant wait till Xavi retires? enough said...

Also last time i checked 25% of 22 years is'nt 4 years

Also Iniesta has been WC for less time than Xavi has so well done for contradicting yourself

Xavi and Pirlo are both 2 of the best regista's to ever play the game anyone that puts such a massive gap between the two is quite frankly a fanboy.

What Ronaldinho did in that 3 years Xavi can't do in 30. The man reached another level from the others in 2004-2006.