David Silva vs José Luis Chilavert: Stats Compared
Attacking Midfielder, Spain (born 1986, retired 2023) · Goalkeeper, Paraguay (born 1965, retired 2004)
Ask any fan to rank David Silva above or below José Luis Chilavert and you will get a passionate answer. Different decades shaped different demands, and both adapted to theirs brilliantly. Across his senior career David Silva notched 124 goals in 771 appearances (0.16 per game), while José Luis Chilavert recorded 67 in 737 (0.09 per game). Because assists were not systematically tracked for much of their time, that side of the comparison rests on the footage that survives. Trophy counts give David Silva 9 and José Luis Chilavert 8, with 1× FIFA World Cup (2010) and 1× Copa Libertadores (1994) the standout honours respectively. Across the modern era and the 1990s respectively, their orchestrating and imposing styles captured the spirit of very different footballing times. Club journeys add another layer, with David Silva reaching his representative peak around 2012 across Valencia, Manchester City, Real Sociedad and José Luis Chilavert doing so around 1994 with San Lorenzo, Real Zaragoza, Vélez Sarsfield, Strasbourg. Picking between them says as much about the picker as the players.
174 words · comparison angle: era
Player profiles
David Josué Jiménez Silva (born 8 January 1986) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played mainly as a central or an attacking midfielder and occasionally as a winger or second striker. Widely regarded as one of the best players of his generation and among the greatest players in Premier League history, he was known for his balance, ball control and agility in close spaces, combined with his skill, composure, passing and flair on the ball. Silva spent seven years of his professional career with Valencia, playing from 2004 to 2010, and won the Copa del Rey in 2008.
“A pocket-sized conductor whose close control and passing gave Manchester City its early rhythm.”
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.”
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× FIFA World Cup (2010)
- 1× Copa Libertadores (1994)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 2004 Established himself at Valencia
- 2008 Reached his defining peak
- 2012 Delivered a landmark season
- 2023 Retired from professional football
- 1986 Established himself at San Lorenzo
- 1990 Reached his defining peak
- 1994 Delivered a landmark season
- 2004 Retired from professional football
The verdict
Reasonable people will disagree, but David Silva wins out by a decisive margin on the weight of a sharper goalscoring record.
David Silva edges it (a decisive margin)
