José Luis Chilavert vs Teddy Sheringham: Stats Compared
Goalkeeper, Paraguay (born 1965, retired 2004) · Striker, England (born 1966, retired 2008)
José Luis Chilavert against Teddy Sheringham is the kind of comparison that fuels pub arguments for hours. Where pure finishing is concerned, this is a shootout between two of the most feared marksmen of their time. José Luis Chilavert finishes with 67 career goals from 737 games — a 0.09 strike rate — against Teddy Sheringham's 320 from 900 at 0.36 per match. Assists were not reliably tracked for much of their careers, which makes the playmaking comparison an imperfect one; where records exist, José Luis Chilavert is credited with 0 and Teddy Sheringham with 130. José Luis Chilavert departs the game with 8 major pieces of silverware, including 1× Copa Libertadores (1994); Teddy Sheringham with 4, including 1× UEFA Champions League (1999). José Luis Chilavert scored with a commanding that defined his era, while Teddy Sheringham's finishing carried a predatory all of its own. Context beyond the headline totals is important: José Luis Chilavert's landmark level arrived around 1994 with a career spanning San Lorenzo, Real Zaragoza, Vélez Sarsfield, Strasbourg; Teddy Sheringham's came around 1999 across Millwall, Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Portsmouth, West Ham United, Colchester United. Each, in his own way, set a standard the other is measured against.
205 words · comparison angle: goalscoring
Player profiles
José Luis Félix Chilavert González is a Paraguayan former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Sportivo Luqueño, Guaraní, San Lorenzo de Almagro, Real Zaragoza, Vélez Sarsfield, RC Strasbourg, Peñarol and the Paraguay national team. Chilavert won 12 club titles, including the 1994 Copa Libertadores and the 1994 Intercontinental Cup, while playing for Vélez Sarsfield, and is a three-time IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper award winner. A fast and agile shot-stopper, known for his leadership, strong personality, and goalkeeping ability, he was regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world in his prime; outside of his goalkeeping position, Chilavert was also known for his outfield skills and ability as a free kick specialist, and often took penalties.
“A commanding goalkeeper and set-piece specialist who made scoring from distance part of his job.”
A cerebral, late-developing striker, Sheringham scored the injury-time equaliser in Manchester United's 1999 Champions League final and remains the Premier League's oldest ever goalscorer.
“An intelligent, deep-dropping forward whose clever hold-up play and vision created space for quicker strike partners.”
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
- 1× Copa Libertadores (1994)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (1999)
- 2× Premier League (1999, 2000)
- 1× FA Cup (1999)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1986 Established himself at San Lorenzo
- 1990 Reached his defining peak
- 1994 Delivered a landmark season
- 2004 Retired from professional football
- 1984 Professional debut for Millwall
- 1999 Won UEFA Champions League with Manchester United
- 1999 Won FA Cup with Manchester United
- 1999 Reached the peak of his powers at Manchester United
- 2008 Retired after a final spell at Colchester United
- Finished his career with 320 goals in 900 appearances and 4 major honours. Finished his career with 320 goals in 900 appearances and 4 major honours.
The verdict
Weighing production, silverware and profile, the two finish within a whisker of each other. Call it a respectful draw — greatness of this calibre resists a single winner.
Too close to call — a respectful draw
