Paolo Maldini vs Elías Figueroa: Stats Compared
Centre-Back / Left-Back, Italy (born 1968, retired 2009) · Centre-Back, Chile (born 1946, retired 1982)
Put Paolo Maldini and Elías Figueroa side by side and you have a genuine generational conversation. Goals are the coldest, hardest metric in football, and both players stockedpile them. By the end Paolo Maldini had 40 goals from 1028 caps and club outings; Elías Figueroa had 40 from 600. Assists were never formally recorded across most of their eras, so the playmaking dimension has to be judged on reputation and highlights rather than hard totals. The honours ledger favours Paolo Maldini with 19 major trophies (5× UEFA Champions League (1989, 1990, 1994, 2003, 2007)) against Elías Figueroa's 5 (2× Uruguayan Primera División (1967, 1968)). Paolo Maldini scored with a elegant that defined his era, while Elías Figueroa's finishing carried a commanding all of its own. Club journeys add another layer, with Paolo Maldini reaching his representative peak around 2003 across AC Milan and Elías Figueroa doing so around 1974 with Santiago Wanderers, Peñarol, Internacional, Palestino, Fort Lauderdale Strikers. Rank them how you like — both names are carved into the sport's permanent record.
173 words · comparison angle: goalscoring
Player profiles
AC Milan's most decorated player, spending his entire 25-year career at the club; five-time Champions League winner.
“A composed, intelligent defender who read the game with immaculate timing across 25 seasons at Milan.”
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
- 5× UEFA Champions League (1989, 1990, 1994, 2003, 2007)
- 7× Serie A (1988, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2004)
- 1× Coppa Italia (2003)
- 5× UEFA Super Cup
- 1× FIFA Club World Cup (2007)
- 2× Uruguayan Primera División (1967, 1968)
- 3× Campeonato Gaúcho (1973, 1974, 1975)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1985 AC Milan debut aged 16
- 1988 First Scudetto with Milan
- 1989 First European Cup with Milan
- 1994 Named man of the match in the Champions League final
- 2003 Won the Champions League final at Old Trafford
- 2007 Won his fifth Champions League trophy
- 2009 Retired aged 41 after 25 seasons at Milan
- 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 Paolo Maldini the lead — a decisive margin, courtesy of a weightier trophy cabinet.
Paolo Maldini edges it (a decisive margin)
