How To Use The Squawka Comparison Matrix
1. Pick your players: Search our database of players and teams for the players or teams you want to compare by clicking the blank player cards above. You can select up to five.
2. ‘Total’ or ‘Per90’? Toggle between the two options above the player cards. The ‘Per90’ option gives you a per-90-minute average based on the recorded game time for your selected player(s).
3. Edit stats: Hit the ‘Edit Stats’ button to browse nine categories, from ‘Shooting’ to ‘Duels’.
4. Settle the Alphonso Davies vs Jonathan David debate once and for all*: Select your stats, sit back, and start drafting that “I told you so” message.
*Disclaimer: You definitely won’t be able to settle it once and for all.
What Do the Stats on the Comparison Matrix Mean?
Player Compare by Position
Goalkeepers
- Saves Made A straightforward one to start. How many saves has the goalkeeper made? This tells you not only how good a shot-stopper they are, but also hints at how many efforts their defence is allowing on goal — relevant whether you’re tracking a CPL keeper or a Canadian international.
- Save Percentage Measures how effective a goalkeeper is at stopping shots on target. A higher save percentage means more saves made. Pair this with other stats like goals prevented or clean sheets for a fuller picture.
- Clean Sheets How many matches has a side completed without conceding? For goalkeepers, this only counts when they play the full 90 minutes and keep a shutout — a term any Canadian soccer fan will be familiar with from watching the national team grind out results.
- Goals Conceded (Inside/Outside Box) Breaks down exactly where goals are being scored against a team or goalkeeper. Inside the box covers headers, tap-ins, rebounds, and close-range finishes. Outside the box covers long shots and set pieces — the kind of strikes that have lit up CPL and MLS matches alike.
- Penalties Faced & Saved Key indicators of a goalkeeper’s composure from the spot. A high save count points to strong reflexes, anticipation, and nerve under pressure.
Defenders
- Clearances The number of times a player removes the ball from a dangerous area by kicking, heading, or otherwise getting it away from goal to relieve pressure.
- Interceptions How many times a player reads and cuts out an opponent’s pass before it reaches its target — a key skill for defenders in the high-pressing style many Canadian clubs favour.
- Blocked Shots The number of times a player physically stops a shot from reaching the goal using any part of their body.
- Tackles Made How many times a player has successfully challenged an opponent to win the ball back through a direct physical contest.
- Last-Man Tackles The number of times a player makes a crucial tackle as the last line of defence between the attacker and the goalkeeper — the kind of moment that gets Canadian fans off their seats.
- Fouls from Tackles How many fouls a player commits while attempting a tackle, typically when they fail to win the ball cleanly.
- Cards (Yellow, Red) Tracks disciplinary records. Useful for assessing defenders who regularly engage in physical battles across a gruelling CPL or MLS season.
- Duels Won Measures one-on-one contests won, covering both ground battles and aerial challenges.
- Aerial & Ground Duel Success Measures a player’s effectiveness in winning challenges in the air and on the ground — two very different skill sets.
Midfielders
- Ball Recoveries How many times a player wins the ball back for their team after it has been lost or contested — a vital stat for the engine-room players driving Canadian club sides forward.
- Passes Completed The total number of successful passes a player makes during a match, whether short, long, forward, or backward.
- Passing Accuracy % The percentage of successful passes out of all attempted. Calculated as: Passing Accuracy % = (Completed Passes ÷ Total Passes Attempted) × 100.
- Assists The number of times a player directly sets up a teammate to score with a final pass or cross.
- Through Balls Passes that split the opposition’s defensive line and create clear goal-scoring chances — the kind of incisive ball that has made Canadian midfielders such as Stephen Eustáquio or Jessie Fleming a joy to watch.
- Open-Play Passes Passes completed during active game situations, excluding set pieces like corners, free kicks, or throw-ins.
- Take-ons Completed How many times a player successfully dribbles past an opponent in a one-on-one situation.
- Take-on Success % The percentage of successful dribbles out of all attempts. Calculated as: Take-on Success % = (Take-ons Completed ÷ Take-ons Attempted) × 100.
- Possession Lost How many times a player loses the ball through a bad touch, poor pass, dispossession, or failed dribble.
Forwards
- Goals (Penalty, Non-Penalty, Home/Away) Breaks down goal-scoring into detailed categories to show reliability and versatility — essential when assessing the likes of Jonathan David or Cyle Larin on the international stage.
- Winning Goals Goals that directly secure a team’s victory — the clutch moments every Canadian soccer fan lives for.
- Shots on Target The number of times a player’s shot is directed within the goal frame and would have scored if not saved or blocked.
- Shot Accuracy % The percentage of shots on target out of all attempts. Calculated as: Shot Accuracy % = (Shots on Target ÷ Total Shots Attempted) × 100.
- Goals from Inside/Outside Box Breaks down goals by location — close-range finishes inside the area versus long-range efforts from outside it.
- Offsides How many times a player is caught in an offside position during attacking play.
- Take-ons The total number of dribble attempts made by a player, whether successful or not.
What Can You Use the Comparison Matrix For?
Fantasy Soccer Decisions Get a tactical edge in your fantasy league by picking players based on form and underlying metrics rather than hype. Spot undervalued players with rising creative or defensive stats, or target high-volume shooters with strong touches in the opposition box when picking your captain — whether you’re playing Fantasy Premier League or MLS Fantasy.
Tactical Breakdowns and Match Previews Go deeper than surface-level stats when previewing Canadian Premier League clashes, MLS matchups, or CanMNT and CanWNT fixtures. Analyze team structure, individual roles, and game dynamics for smarter predictions and sharper commentary.
Betting Make evidence-based predictions across multiple markets rather than relying on gut feeling alone. Compare player strengths and weaknesses — for example, a winger with high take-on numbers up against a full-back with a poor tackle success rate — to find the edge before placing your bets. Please play responsibly.