Garrincha vs Cuauhtémoc Blanco: Stats Compared
Right Winger, Brazil (born 1933, retired 1972) · Forward, Mexico (born 1973, retired 2014)
Garrincha against Cuauhtémoc Blanco is the kind of comparison that fuels pub arguments for hours. Their jobs on the pitch were not the same, yet both redefined what their role could be. Career output puts Garrincha at 245 goals in 612 games, with Cuauhtémoc Blanco at 250 in 700. Assists were not reliably tracked for much of their careers, which makes the playmaking comparison an imperfect one; where records exist, Garrincha is credited with 0 and Cuauhtémoc Blanco with 100. Garrincha departs the game with 9 major pieces of silverware, including 2× FIFA World Cup (1958, 1962); Cuauhtémoc Blanco with 4, including 3× Liga MX (1992, 2002, 2005). As a right winger Garrincha bent the role to a ruthless template; as a forward, Cuauhtémoc Blanco redefined it with clinical authority. Context beyond the headline totals is important: Garrincha's landmark level arrived around 1962 with a career spanning Botafogo, Corinthians, Flamengo; Cuauhtémoc Blanco's came around 1998 across América, Chicago Fire, Puebla FC. Picking between them says as much about the picker as the players.
173 words · comparison angle: role
Player profiles
Manuel Francisco dos Santos (28 October 1933 – 20 January 1983), nicknamed Mané Garrincha, best known as simply Garrincha, was a Brazilian professional footballer who played as a right winger. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, and by many, one of the greatest dribblers ever. Garrincha played a vital role in Brazil's 1958 and 1962 World Cup victories.
“A joyful dribbler whose balance and feints made the right flank his personal stage.”
A flamboyant Mexican playmaker famed for inventing the 'Cuauhtemiña' skill move, Blanco starred at three World Cups across a 20-year career.
“A stocky, combative forward with outrageous flair, best remembered for hopping the ball between two defenders in a signature dribble.”
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
- 2× FIFA World Cup (1958, 1962)
- 3× Liga MX (1992, 2002, 2005)
- 1× CONCACAF Champions' Cup (1992)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1954 Established himself at Botafogo
- 1958 Reached his defining peak
- 1962 Delivered a landmark season
- 1972 Retired from professional football
- 1992 Professional debut for América
- 1992 Won Liga MX with América
- 1992 Won CONCACAF Champions' Cup with América
- 1998 Reached the peak of his powers at América
- 2014 Retired after a final spell at Puebla FC
- Finished his career with 250 goals in 700 appearances and 4 major honours. Finished his career with 250 goals in 700 appearances and 4 major honours.
The verdict
Weighing production against honours, Garrincha takes the verdict — a clear margin, driven by a weightier trophy cabinet.
Garrincha edges it (a clear margin)
