Angel Di Maria vs. David Silva: Who Is Better?

Angel Di Maria and David Silva are the sort of players whose best football is a joy to watch, but who can lay claim to being the better of the two? 

With the Manchester derby coming up on Sunday, both will be hoping to guide their teams to a much-needed win.

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Ultimately, of course, football is a team sport, and such individual distinctions serve as a fun talking point rather than anything more crucial. However, with that said, let's take a look at who has a better claim to the status of "best player in Manchester."

Silverware

For elite-level footballers, success is measured in silverware. Of course, the quality of team they ply their trade for and the level of competition faced by that team are key factors in determining how much they can win. 

Both players have an impressive haul of silverware. Silva was part of the Spain side who sandwiched successful European Championship campaigns either side of winning the 2010 World Cup. Di Maria has a runners-up medal from the 2014 edition of that tournament.

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Domestically, Silva won the Copa del Rey with Valencia in 2008 and has won two league titles, an FA Cup and the League Cup with Manchester City. Di Maria won the Portuguese league with Benfica in 2010, as well as two league cups. With Real Madrid, he won La Liga in 2012, the Copa del Rey in 2011 and 2014 and, crucially, the club's 10th European Cup in 2014.

Neither player could be disappointed with such illustrious rewards for their endeavours, but Silva's part in Spain's era-defining international side probably grants him very slight bragging rights over Di Maria's Champions League medal in this area.

Output

Here, Di Maria has a clear edge. Silva is not an unproductive player by any means, but Di Maria's numbers are outstanding.

In the 11,961 minutes of his career tracked by statistics website WhoScored.com, the Argentine has produced 34 goals and 66 assists. Silva has 35 goals and 54 assists in 14,971 minutes. For Di Maria, that means a goal or assist every 119.61 minutes; for Silva, it is 168.21 minutes per goal or assist.

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Of course, assists rely on players to finish the chances created for them, and Silva's average number of key passes per game is actually higher than Di Maria's throughout the course of their careers. Di Maria has made an average of 2.1 key passes per game to Silva's 2.5.

When looking at the data closely, the differences in their playing styles are exposed. In truth, the validity of direct comparison is limited because they are not the same kind of player. Silva has played much of his career starting in wide positions, but his average of 0.8 crosses per game to Di Maria's 1.5 indicates the latter's tendencies are closer to those of a traditional winger.

This difference in style—both of their teams and as individuals—also helps to explain the disparity in their successful pass completion percentage—Di Maria's stands at 76.8 per cent to Silva's 86.3 per cent.

Electricity

The intangible quality of brilliance and excitement is something both players certainly possess. Think of Di Maria's outstanding goal against Leicester City in September or Silva's mazy run and deft finish against West Ham United on Saturday. Both players can be proud to have the other used as a point of comparison.

Ultimately, my personal bias makes any judgement redundant, but I am glad it is Di Maria, rather than Silva, who is at the club I support. It is a fine margin, and it may just be that United need the direct, high-impact style of player that Di Maria is more than they need Silva's artistry at the moment.

That is not to say Silva is anything less than superb, however.

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If the injury that forced him to be substituted in the League Cup against Newcastle United on Wednesday, per the Guardian, means he will miss the derby, United will be pleased to not have to deal with him—as City would be should Di Maria be absent.

Ultimately, as with the endless debate between supporters of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, perhaps the best approach is simply to enjoy them both. 

All statistics per WhoScored.com