Scoring
How Scoring Works
Every tackle, shot, pass, and save counts — on purpose.
This isn't a salary-cap points system borrowed from somewhere else. Every number on this page was tuned by hand against real match data from the top 5 European leagues, position by position, until the players who actually decide games were the players who actually scored the most. A ball-winning midfielder shouldn't score like a poacher. A shutout should mean more for the center-back who earned it than the striker who watched it happen. That's the whole idea.
Position-aware
Four separate weight tables — Forwards, Midfielders, Defenders, Goalkeepers — so the same stat can mean something different depending on whose job it actually is.
Tuned, not guessed
Weights were adjusted iteratively against real synced season data — not assigned once and left alone.
Built for newcomers
Every stat below explains what it means, what it's worth, and links out to see it happen on real film — no soccer stat-sheet experience required.
The Basics
Same rules for outfielders
Own Goals
A goal accidentally scored into the player's own net.
An own goal costs every position the same -9 — the single harshest penalty anywhere in the system.
Penalties Missed
A penalty kick taken by the player that fails to score.
Goalkeepers don't score this one.
Assists
The final pass or action that directly sets up a teammate's goal.
Goalkeepers earn the biggest assist bonus of any position (+9, vs. +7 everywhere else) — a keeper launching the pass that starts a goal-scoring move is a rare, high-skill event worth extra credit.
Red Cards
A straight red card, sending the player off.
A straight red costs every position the same -7 — leaving your team down a player for the rest of the match is an equally big blow no matter who does it.
Penalties Won
Winning a penalty for their team by being fouled in the box.
Winning a penalty is worth a big +6 for Forwards, Midfielders, and Defenders alike — earning your team a near-guaranteed goal is valuable no matter who wins it. Goalkeepers don't score this one; they're never up the pitch to win it.
Big Chances Missed
A clear, high-probability chance the player themself failed to convert.
Squandering a clear chance costs Forwards, Midfielders, and Defenders the same -4 — steep on purpose, since a big chance that's blocked, saved, or hits the post is still a missed opportunity, not a neutral one, whoever you are.
Yellow/Red
A second yellow card in the same match, resulting in a red card.
Worth the same for Goalkeepers too.
Big Chances Created
A pass or setup that gives a teammate a clear, high-probability chance to score.
Goalkeepers don't score this one.
Yellow Cards
A caution shown by the referee.
A caution costs every position the same -3 — discipline is discipline, regardless of where you play.
Shots On Target
A shot that would go in without being blocked or saved.
Goalkeepers don't score this one.
Hit Woodwork
A shot that strikes the post or crossbar.
Goalkeepers don't score this one.
Successful Dribbles
A dribble past an opponent that beats them and keeps possession.
Goalkeepers don't score this one.
Accurate Crosses
A cross into the box that successfully finds a teammate.
Goalkeepers don't score this one.
Shots Total
Any shot attempt, on or off target.
Goalkeepers don't score this one.
Fouls Drawn
A foul committed against this player by an opponent.
Goalkeepers don't score this one.
Dispossessed
Losing the ball to an opponent's challenge while in possession.
Losing the ball in a challenge costs every position the same small -0.5 — a minor, universal nudge to take care of possession.
Position by Position
What earns points depends on what you're asked to do
FWDForwards
9 position-specific stats
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Forwards
9 position-specific stats
Forwards are built to score. Goals (+11) carry the single biggest reward anywhere in the system, and shots on target, big chances, and successful dribbles all lean toward reinforcing pure attacking output. There's no reward for keeping the ball out at the other end — a Forward's job is up front.
Goals
A goal scored by the player.
Forwards earn the single biggest bonus in the whole system for a goal (+11) — scoring is the job. Midfielders, Defenders, and Goalkeepers all earn +10: a goal from deep swings a scoreline just as much, however rare the sight.
Penalties Committed
A foul inside the box that gives away a penalty.
Giving away a penalty is punished far more harshly for attacking players (-8 for Forwards and Midfielders) than for Defenders and Goalkeepers (-2) — a foul in the box is usually a last, defensive necessity for the players whose actual job is stopping goals.
Key Passes
A pass that creates a shot opportunity for a teammate, whether or not it results in a goal.
Midfielders and Defenders earn slightly more for a key pass (+2.5) than Forwards (+2) — creating a chance from a deeper position is a scarcer, more valuable sight than a Forward doing it high up the pitch.
Aerials Won
A contested header or jump duel won against an opponent.
Goalkeepers earn the most for winning an aerial duel (+3) — commanding the box under a cross is a core keeper skill. Midfielders (+1.5), Forwards (+1.25), and Defenders (+1) all earn a smaller, steadier amount for the same play.
Long Balls Won
A long pass (35+ yards) that successfully finds a teammate.
Also worth +1 for MID, +1 for DEF.
Interceptions
Reading and cutting out an opponent's pass before it reaches its target.
Midfielders lead here too (+1.5) — reading the game and cutting out passes through the center is a core part of the position. Defenders and Goalkeepers earn +1, Forwards only +0.5.
Offsides
Being flagged offside when receiving the ball.
Also worth -1 for MID, -0.25 for DEF.
Tackles Won
A tackle that successfully wins the ball from an opponent.
Midfielders earn the most for winning a tackle (+1.5) — ball-winning in the middle of the park is what turns defense into attack. Defenders and Goalkeepers earn +1, and Forwards only +0.5: a bonus for a striker, not the job.
Duels Won
1-on-1 contests for the ball (tackles, headers, shoulder challenges) won against an opponent.
Goalkeepers earn a big +3 for winning a 1-on-1 duel — a rare, high-stakes event for the position. Defenders and Midfielders earn +0.5, and Forwards a smaller +0.25 — duels are a far more common, lower-stakes event higher up the pitch.
MIDMidfielders
15 position-specific stats
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Midfielders
15 position-specific stats
Midfielders are the most complete scorers on the pitch — full credit for goals and assists, the biggest reward anywhere for winning tackles and interceptions (+1.5 each), and real bonus points when their team keeps a clean sheet. Built to earn points from both boxes.
Goals
A goal scored by the player.
Forwards earn the single biggest bonus in the whole system for a goal (+11) — scoring is the job. Midfielders, Defenders, and Goalkeepers all earn +10: a goal from deep swings a scoreline just as much, however rare the sight.
Penalties Committed
A foul inside the box that gives away a penalty.
Giving away a penalty is punished far more harshly for attacking players (-8 for Forwards and Midfielders) than for Defenders and Goalkeepers (-2) — a foul in the box is usually a last, defensive necessity for the players whose actual job is stopping goals.
Clearance Offline
A goal-saving clearance off the line.
A clearance off the goal line pays the same big bonus (+5) for Midfielders and Defenders alike — however rare the position making the play, saving a certain goal is worth a certain amount.
Error Lead To Goal
A mistake by the player that directly leads to an opponent's goal.
A costly mistake is scored in proportion to how rarely it should happen: -8 for Defenders, -5 for Midfielders, -2 for Goalkeepers. Forwards aren't docked at all — an attacking mistake almost never gifts the opponent a goal directly.
Last Man Tackle
A last-ditch tackle that stops a clear goalscoring opportunity.
A last-ditch, goal-saving tackle is worth more for a Defender (+5) than a Midfielder (+4) — it's an even bigger deal in your own box, where it's often the only thing standing between the opponent and a goal.
Clean Sheets
The player's team didn't concede a goal while they were on the pitch for at least 60 minutes.
Clean sheets pay out more the further back a position plays: +8 for Goalkeepers, +6 for Defenders, +3 for Midfielders, nothing for Forwards. A shutout says the most about a keeper's and back line's individual performance — for a Forward, it says almost nothing about how they actually played.
Key Passes
A pass that creates a shot opportunity for a teammate, whether or not it results in a goal.
Midfielders and Defenders earn slightly more for a key pass (+2.5) than Forwards (+2) — creating a chance from a deeper position is a scarcer, more valuable sight than a Forward doing it high up the pitch.
Aerials Won
A contested header or jump duel won against an opponent.
Goalkeepers earn the most for winning an aerial duel (+3) — commanding the box under a cross is a core keeper skill. Midfielders (+1.5), Forwards (+1.25), and Defenders (+1) all earn a smaller, steadier amount for the same play.
Interceptions
Reading and cutting out an opponent's pass before it reaches its target.
Midfielders lead here too (+1.5) — reading the game and cutting out passes through the center is a core part of the position. Defenders and Goalkeepers earn +1, Forwards only +0.5.
Tackles Won
A tackle that successfully wins the ball from an opponent.
Midfielders earn the most for winning a tackle (+1.5) — ball-winning in the middle of the park is what turns defense into attack. Defenders and Goalkeepers earn +1, and Forwards only +0.5: a bonus for a striker, not the job.
Blocked Shots
An opponent's shot blocked by this player before it reaches goal.
Also worth +3 for DEF.
Long Balls Won
A long pass (35+ yards) that successfully finds a teammate.
Also worth +0.5 for FWD, +1 for DEF.
Offsides
Being flagged offside when receiving the ball.
Also worth -0.5 for FWD, -0.25 for DEF.
Goals Conceded
A goal conceded by the player's team while they were on the pitch.
Conceding costs Defenders the most (-3), Goalkeepers a little less (-1.5), and Midfielders barely anything (-1). Forwards aren't docked at all — the scoring mirrors whose job it actually was to stop the goal.
Duels Won
1-on-1 contests for the ball (tackles, headers, shoulder challenges) won against an opponent.
Goalkeepers earn a big +3 for winning a 1-on-1 duel — a rare, high-stakes event for the position. Defenders and Midfielders earn +0.5, and Forwards a smaller +0.25 — duels are a far more common, lower-stakes event higher up the pitch.
DEFDefenders
19 position-specific stats
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Defenders
19 position-specific stats
Defenders earn nearly as much for stopping goals as for scoring them. A clean sheet (+6) is the second-biggest single bonus an outfield player can earn, and the big defensive moments — a last-man tackle, a goal-line clearance — are rewarded like near-goals in their own right.
Goals
A goal scored by the player.
Forwards earn the single biggest bonus in the whole system for a goal (+11) — scoring is the job. Midfielders, Defenders, and Goalkeepers all earn +10: a goal from deep swings a scoreline just as much, however rare the sight.
Error Lead To Goal
A mistake by the player that directly leads to an opponent's goal.
A costly mistake is scored in proportion to how rarely it should happen: -8 for Defenders, -5 for Midfielders, -2 for Goalkeepers. Forwards aren't docked at all — an attacking mistake almost never gifts the opponent a goal directly.
Clean Sheets
The player's team didn't concede a goal while they were on the pitch for at least 60 minutes.
Clean sheets pay out more the further back a position plays: +8 for Goalkeepers, +6 for Defenders, +3 for Midfielders, nothing for Forwards. A shutout says the most about a keeper's and back line's individual performance — for a Forward, it says almost nothing about how they actually played.
Clearance Offline
A goal-saving clearance off the line.
A clearance off the goal line pays the same big bonus (+5) for Midfielders and Defenders alike — however rare the position making the play, saving a certain goal is worth a certain amount.
Last Man Tackle
A last-ditch tackle that stops a clear goalscoring opportunity.
A last-ditch, goal-saving tackle is worth more for a Defender (+5) than a Midfielder (+4) — it's an even bigger deal in your own box, where it's often the only thing standing between the opponent and a goal.
Blocked Shots
An opponent's shot blocked by this player before it reaches goal.
Also worth +1 for MID.
Goals Conceded
A goal conceded by the player's team while they were on the pitch.
Conceding costs Defenders the most (-3), Goalkeepers a little less (-1.5), and Midfielders barely anything (-1). Forwards aren't docked at all — the scoring mirrors whose job it actually was to stop the goal.
Key Passes
A pass that creates a shot opportunity for a teammate, whether or not it results in a goal.
Midfielders and Defenders earn slightly more for a key pass (+2.5) than Forwards (+2) — creating a chance from a deeper position is a scarcer, more valuable sight than a Forward doing it high up the pitch.
Penalties Committed
A foul inside the box that gives away a penalty.
Giving away a penalty is punished far more harshly for attacking players (-8 for Forwards and Midfielders) than for Defenders and Goalkeepers (-2) — a foul in the box is usually a last, defensive necessity for the players whose actual job is stopping goals.
Dribbled Past
Being beaten by an opponent's dribble.
Only Defenders are docked for being beaten by a dribble (-2) — losing a 1-on-1 in the middle of the pitch isn't nearly as costly as losing one in your own box.
Aerials Won
A contested header or jump duel won against an opponent.
Goalkeepers earn the most for winning an aerial duel (+3) — commanding the box under a cross is a core keeper skill. Midfielders (+1.5), Forwards (+1.25), and Defenders (+1) all earn a smaller, steadier amount for the same play.
Long Balls Won
A long pass (35+ yards) that successfully finds a teammate.
Also worth +0.5 for FWD, +1 for MID.
Interceptions
Reading and cutting out an opponent's pass before it reaches its target.
Midfielders lead here too (+1.5) — reading the game and cutting out passes through the center is a core part of the position. Defenders and Goalkeepers earn +1, Forwards only +0.5.
Tackles Won
A tackle that successfully wins the ball from an opponent.
Midfielders earn the most for winning a tackle (+1.5) — ball-winning in the middle of the park is what turns defense into attack. Defenders and Goalkeepers earn +1, and Forwards only +0.5: a bonus for a striker, not the job.
Offsides Provoked
Successfully catching an opponent offside.
Only Defenders are credited for catching an opponent offside (+1) — the offside trap is fundamentally a defensive-line tactic.
Duels Won
1-on-1 contests for the ball (tackles, headers, shoulder challenges) won against an opponent.
Goalkeepers earn a big +3 for winning a 1-on-1 duel — a rare, high-stakes event for the position. Defenders and Midfielders earn +0.5, and Forwards a smaller +0.25 — duels are a far more common, lower-stakes event higher up the pitch.
Clearances
Clearing the ball away from danger near the player's own goal.
Also worth +2.5 for GK.
Offsides
Being flagged offside when receiving the ball.
Also worth -0.5 for FWD, -1 for MID.
Passes In Final Third
A completed pass in the attacking third of the pitch.
Only Defenders earn this as a straight rate — +0.1 for every completed pass into the attacking third, rewarding a back line that plays progressively rather than just clearing danger. Goalkeepers score the same underlying stat completely differently: an above-average threshold bonus (see Bonus Mechanics below), not a per-pass rate.
GKGoalkeepers
21 position-specific stats
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Goalkeepers
21 position-specific stats
Goalkeepers score in a language nobody else speaks: saves, claims, and penalty stops that don't exist for any other position, the single biggest clean-sheet bonus in the game (+8), and two bonuses built to reward standing tall under real pressure, not padding a stat line in a quiet win.
Goals
A goal scored by the player.
Forwards earn the single biggest bonus in the whole system for a goal (+11) — scoring is the job. Midfielders, Defenders, and Goalkeepers all earn +10: a goal from deep swings a scoreline just as much, however rare the sight.
Own Goals
A goal accidentally scored into the player's own net.
An own goal costs every position the same -9 — the single harshest penalty anywhere in the system.
Assists
The final pass or action that directly sets up a teammate's goal.
Goalkeepers earn the biggest assist bonus of any position (+9, vs. +7 everywhere else) — a keeper launching the pass that starts a goal-scoring move is a rare, high-skill event worth extra credit.
Penalties Saved
A penalty kick saved by the goalkeeper.
A penalty save is the single biggest positive event a Goalkeeper can produce (+8) — stopping a near-certain goal outright.
Clean Sheets
The player's team didn't concede a goal while they were on the pitch for at least 60 minutes.
Clean sheets pay out more the further back a position plays: +8 for Goalkeepers, +6 for Defenders, +3 for Midfielders, nothing for Forwards. A shutout says the most about a keeper's and back line's individual performance — for a Forward, it says almost nothing about how they actually played.
Red Cards
A straight red card, sending the player off.
A straight red costs every position the same -7 — leaving your team down a player for the rest of the match is an equally big blow no matter who does it.
Yellow/Red
A second yellow card in the same match, resulting in a red card.
Also worth -4 for FWD, -4 for MID, -4 for DEF.
Aerials Won
A contested header or jump duel won against an opponent.
Goalkeepers earn the most for winning an aerial duel (+3) — commanding the box under a cross is a core keeper skill. Midfielders (+1.5), Forwards (+1.25), and Defenders (+1) all earn a smaller, steadier amount for the same play.
Duels Won
1-on-1 contests for the ball (tackles, headers, shoulder challenges) won against an opponent.
Goalkeepers earn a big +3 for winning a 1-on-1 duel — a rare, high-stakes event for the position. Defenders and Midfielders earn +0.5, and Forwards a smaller +0.25 — duels are a far more common, lower-stakes event higher up the pitch.
Yellow Cards
A caution shown by the referee.
A caution costs every position the same -3 — discipline is discipline, regardless of where you play.
Clearances
Clearing the ball away from danger near the player's own goal.
Also worth +0.5 for DEF.
Penalties Committed
A foul inside the box that gives away a penalty.
Giving away a penalty is punished far more harshly for attacking players (-8 for Forwards and Midfielders) than for Defenders and Goalkeepers (-2) — a foul in the box is usually a last, defensive necessity for the players whose actual job is stopping goals.
Saves
A shot on target stopped by the goalkeeper.
Every save is worth a flat +2 for a Goalkeeper — the bread-and-butter stat of the position.
Error Lead To Goal
A mistake by the player that directly leads to an opponent's goal.
A costly mistake is scored in proportion to how rarely it should happen: -8 for Defenders, -5 for Midfielders, -2 for Goalkeepers. Forwards aren't docked at all — an attacking mistake almost never gifts the opponent a goal directly.
Goals Conceded
A goal conceded by the player's team while they were on the pitch.
Conceding costs Defenders the most (-3), Goalkeepers a little less (-1.5), and Midfielders barely anything (-1). Forwards aren't docked at all — the scoring mirrors whose job it actually was to stop the goal.
Saves Inside the Box
A save made by the goalkeeper from inside their own box.
Only Goalkeepers score this one.
Interceptions
Reading and cutting out an opponent's pass before it reaches its target.
Midfielders lead here too (+1.5) — reading the game and cutting out passes through the center is a core part of the position. Defenders and Goalkeepers earn +1, Forwards only +0.5.
Good High Claim
A goalkeeper safely catching a high ball (cross or corner) under pressure.
Only Goalkeepers score this one.
Punches
A goalkeeper punching a cross clear instead of catching it.
Only Goalkeepers score this one.
Tackles Won
A tackle that successfully wins the ball from an opponent.
Midfielders earn the most for winning a tackle (+1.5) — ball-winning in the middle of the park is what turns defense into attack. Defenders and Goalkeepers earn +1, and Forwards only +0.5: a bonus for a striker, not the job.
Dispossessed
Losing the ball to an opponent's challenge while in possession.
Losing the ball in a challenge costs every position the same small -0.5 — a minor, universal nudge to take care of possession.
Bonus Mechanics
A few stats don't play by the normal rules
Pass Completion Bonus
🎥 See it happenForwards, Midfielders, and Defenders all earn stacking bonus points for a clean passing performance in a single game — evaluated per game, not averaged across the season, since a passing masterclass on Saturday shouldn't get diluted by a scrappy performance the week before.
Forwards
- 85%+ pass completion+1 pts
- 90%+ pass completion+4 pts
- 95%+ pass completion+7 pts
Midfielders
- 85%+ pass completion+1 pts
- 90%+ pass completion+3 pts
- 95%+ pass completion+5 pts
Defenders
- 85%+ pass completion+1 pts
- 90%+ pass completion+2 pts
- 95%+ pass completion+3 pts
The tiers stack — clearing 95% in a game earns the 85%, 90%, and 95% bonuses all at once. Defenders earn a gentler bonus than Forwards on purpose: a defender who also racks up clean-sheet points shouldn't be rewarded twice as hard for the same steady, low-risk passing game.
Goalkeeper Bonus: Passes In Final Third
🎥 See it happenA goalkeeper who completes passes into the attacking third — starting or extending a move deep in the opponent's half — earns an above-average threshold bonus: nothing up to 4 in a game, then an uncapped +1 point for every one beyond that. A capped, tiered version was tried first and rejected — it compressed the goalkeeper leaderboard instead of separating the keepers who actually do this from the ones who don't.
Goalkeeper Bonus: Shutout Under Siege
🎥 See it happenA flat +4 points when a goalkeeper keeps a clean sheet and makes 4+ saves in the same game. A quiet 1-save shutout still earns the normal clean sheet bonus — this one is specifically for the keeper who had to earn it, standing on his head to keep the ball out.
How a Clean Sheet Is Actually Counted
Clean sheets aren't a stat Sportmonks hands us directly — we compute them ourselves from real match events. A player only earns credit if their team concedes nothing while they're actually on the pitch for at least 60 minutes. Substituted off before a late goal against? You still keep your clean sheet — you earned it before you left.
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