Raymond Kopa vs Elías Figueroa: Stats Compared
Forward, France (born 1931, retired 1967) · Centre-Back, Chile (born 1946, retired 1982)
When Raymond Kopa and Elías Figueroa are mentioned in the same breath, opinions rarely stay quiet. Trophies, more than goals, are how most supporters ultimately remember a career. The raw numbers read 150 goals in 450 outings for Raymond Kopa (0.33/game), versus 40 in 600 for Elías Figueroa (0.07/game). Because assists were not systematically tracked for much of their time, that side of the comparison rests on the footage that survives. Raymond Kopa departs the game with 5 major pieces of silverware, including 3× European Cup (1957, 1958, 1959); Elías Figueroa with 5, including 2× Uruguayan Primera División (1967, 1968). Raymond Kopa built his medal haul through years of flair-driven consistency, while Elías Figueroa won his with resolute bursts of brilliance. The wider career context matters too: Raymond Kopa peaked around 1958 after representing Angers, Reims, Real Madrid, Reims, while Elías Figueroa's defining level came around 1974 across Santiago Wanderers, Peñarol, Internacional, Palestino, Fort Lauderdale Strikers. Picking between them says as much about the picker as the players.
168 words · comparison angle: trophies
Player profiles
France's first football superstar and 1958 Ballon d'Or winner, Kopa won three straight European Cups alongside Di Stéfano at Real Madrid before returning to lead Reims.
“A diminutive, dazzling dribbler and creator whose vision and close control made him the conductor of every attack he played in.”
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× European Cup (1957, 1958, 1959)
- 2× Ligue 1 (1953, 1960)
- 2× Uruguayan Primera División (1967, 1968)
- 3× Campeonato Gaúcho (1973, 1974, 1975)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1949 Professional debut for Angers
- 1957 Won European Cup with Real Madrid
- 1953 Won Ligue 1 with Reims
- 1958 Reached the peak of his powers at Real Madrid
- 1967 Retired after a final spell at Reims
- Finished his career with 150 goals in 450 appearances and 5 major honours. Finished his career with 150 goals in 450 appearances and 5 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
Reasonable people will disagree, but Elías Figueroa wins out by a clear margin on the weight of remarkable longevity.
Elías Figueroa edges it (a clear margin)
