Introduction. Soccer players attribute particular importance to media and how newspapers portray their individual performances. However, these analysis can be biased and unfair to players. Aim of Study. This study analyzed how sport newspapers rated soccer players’ performances, comparing them to performance variables from a data-driven platform (SofaScore). Material and Methods. Ratings from the last five games of the Portuguese first division (2021/22 season) were collected from ‘A Bola’, ‘O Jogo’ and ‘Record’ newspapers, in addition of SofaScore data: SofaScore rating, goals scored, saves (for goalkeepers), assists to goals, successful exits (for goalkeepers), accurate passes, key passes, success dribbles, ball lost, shots on target, tackles and duels won (both aerial and on the ground). Results. Correlations between newspapers and between newspapers and SofaScore Rating were moderate to strong (0.54-0.64, p < 0.001). Goalkeepers received higher ratings (‘A Bola’: 5.77 ± 0.99; ‘O Jogo’: 5.73 ± 0.83; ‘Record’: 2.85 ± 0.80). Goalkeepers receive higher newspaper’ ratings if they perform more Exits (‘A Bola’ and ‘Record’) and won Duels (‘O Jogo’). Outfield players receive higher newspaper’ ratings if they score (‘A Bola’, ‘O Jogo’ and ‘Record’) or assist (‘O Jogo’ and ‘Record’) goals. Conclusions. With this information, players can better understand newspapers ratings, while the media can evaluate the fairness of those evaluations, especially regarding players that are usually distant from goal situations.