Ali Daei vs Elías Figueroa: Stats Compared
Striker, Iran (born 1969, retired 2007) · Centre-Back, Chile (born 1946, retired 1982)
Ali Daei and Elías Figueroa represent two answers to the same question: how do you define a great? Different decades shaped different demands, and both adapted to theirs brilliantly. Ali Daei finishes with 200 career goals from 400 games — a 0.50 strike rate — against Elías Figueroa's 40 from 600 at 0.07 per match. Because assists were not systematically tracked for much of their time, that side of the comparison rests on the footage that survives. The honours ledger favours Ali Daei with 4 major trophies (3× Iranian Football League (1990, 1991, 1993)) against Elías Figueroa's 5 (2× Uruguayan Primera División (1967, 1968)). Ali Daei belonged to the 1990s, dominating with a explosive quality; Elías Figueroa rose in the 1970s with a elegant edge. Context beyond the headline totals is important: Ali Daei's landmark level arrived around 1999 with a career spanning Persepolis, Arminia Bielefeld, Bayern Munich, Hertha BSC, Al-Sadd, Saba Qom; Elías Figueroa's came around 1974 across Santiago Wanderers, Peñarol, Internacional, Palestino, Fort Lauderdale Strikers. Each, in his own way, set a standard the other is measured against.
180 words · comparison angle: era
Player profiles
The all-time leading international goalscorer for over a decade with 109 goals, Daei was Asia's most feared centre-forward through the 1990s and 2000s.
“A physically imposing, clinical target man dominant in the air and lethal in front of goal.”
A three-time South American Footballer of the Year, Figueroa is widely considered the finest defender the continent has produced, marshalling Internacional's dominant 1970s side.
“An imperious, elegant centre-back who combined aerial dominance with composed distribution well ahead of his era.”
Head-to-head stats
Career goals by season
Representative career seasons — goals per season for each player across their documented clubs.
Attribute radar
Attribute ratings are peak-era, 0–100. Different positions naturally skew the profile.
Attribute comparison
Trophy breakdown
- 3× Iranian Football League (1990, 1991, 1993)
- 1× Hazfi Cup (1993)
- 2× Uruguayan Primera División (1967, 1968)
- 3× Campeonato Gaúcho (1973, 1974, 1975)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1988 Professional debut for Persepolis
- 1990 Won Iranian Football League with Persepolis
- 1993 Won Hazfi Cup with Persepolis
- 1999 Reached the peak of his powers at Bayern Munich
- 2007 Retired after a final spell at Saba Qom
- Finished his career with 200 goals in 400 appearances and 4 major honours. Finished his career with 200 goals in 400 appearances and 4 major honours.
- 1965 Professional debut for Santiago Wanderers
- 1967 Won Uruguayan Primera División with Peñarol
- 1973 Won Campeonato Gaúcho with Internacional
- 1974 Reached the peak of his powers at Internacional
- 1982 Retired after a final spell at Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Finished his career with 40 goals in 600 appearances and 5 major honours. Finished his career with 40 goals in 600 appearances and 5 major honours.
The verdict
The numbers give Elías Figueroa the lead — a narrow margin, courtesy of remarkable longevity.
Elías Figueroa edges it (a narrow margin)
