Who is better, Metzelder or Ricken?
Lars Ricken leads with a GOAT score of 73.1 against 72.8 for Christoph Metzelder — a gap of 0.3 points on GOAT Rank's weighted model.
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Metzelder vs Ricken
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GOAT verdictgoatrank.world
RickenWinner
73.1Ricken wins: Statistics
Metzelder
72.8Metzelder wins: no category outright
Candidates
Locked to FootballShareable URL · /compare/christoph-metzelder-vs-lars-ricken
Time range
Showing full careers. Pick a window to recalculate the selected period.
Category radar
Verdict
Weighted GOAT score
🇩🇪 Lars Ricken
73.1
Ricken leads in 5 of 5 weighted categories.
1. Lars Ricken
2. Christoph Metzelder
Category breakdown
Season form · Goals per season
Career timeline · Goals per season
Cumulative output season by season — the shape of each career against the other.
GOAT pace tracker
Through age 21 · Goals per season
1. 🇩🇪 Lars Ricken11 goals
4 seasons by age 21 · 2.8 per season
Setting the pace at age 21
2. 🇩🇪 Christoph Metzelder0 goals
1 season by age 21 · 0 per season
Metzelder is -100.0% behind Ricken's pace at age 21
Every career is cut at the season the athlete turned 21, so a rookie today is measured against exactly what a legend had banked by the same birthday.
Fan vote — data vs the people
GOAT Rank · the data
Ricken73.1
Metzelder72.8
FAQ
Where does Metzelder beat Ricken?
Metzelder does not lead any of the five categories; Ricken is ahead or level on all of them.
How is the Metzelder vs Ricken score calculated?
Both are scored on peak, dominance, honours, statistics, longevity within their sport. Metzelder: 72.8, Ricken: 73.1.
What do you think?
0 commentsMake your case for Metzelder vs Ricken. The scoring is published in full — if you can point at the pillar or the weight you disagree with, we read it. Read the methodology paper.