Davor Šuker vs José Luis Chilavert: Stats Compared
Striker, Croatia (born 1968, retired 2003) · Goalkeeper, Paraguay (born 1965, retired 2004)
Put Davor Šuker and José Luis Chilavert side by side and you have a genuine generational conversation. Strikers are judged on goals, and on that raw currency both men delivered extraordinary returns. Across his senior career Davor Šuker notched 273 goals in 526 appearances (0.52 per game), while José Luis Chilavert recorded 67 in 737 (0.09 per game). Reliable assist tallies simply do not exist for large stretches of their careers, leaving creativity to the eye rather than the spreadsheet. Davor Šuker departs the game with 8 major pieces of silverware, including 1× UEFA Champions League (1998); José Luis Chilavert with 8, including 1× Copa Libertadores (1994). Where Davor Šuker was a mercurial presence in the box, José Luis Chilavert offered a commanding approach to goalscoring. Context beyond the headline totals is important: Davor Šuker's landmark level arrived around 1998 with a career spanning Osijek, Sevilla, Real Madrid, Arsenal, West Ham; José Luis Chilavert's came around 1994 across San Lorenzo, Real Zaragoza, Vélez Sarsfield, Strasbourg. Whichever side you land on, both belong in any conversation about the finest of their generation.
181 words · comparison angle: goalscoring
Player profiles
Davor Šuker is a Croatian football administrator and former professional player who played as a striker. He served as the president of the Croatian Football Federation (HNS) from 2012 to 2021. Šuker is generally regarded as the greatest Croatian striker of all time with a record 45 goals in 68 matches.
“A left-footed finisher with delicate touch, clever movement and a taste for spectacular goals.”
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× UEFA Champions League (1998)
- 1× Copa Libertadores (1994)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1990 Established himself at Osijek
- 1994 Reached his defining peak
- 1998 Delivered a landmark season
- 2003 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
Weighing production against honours, Davor Šuker takes the verdict — a clear margin, driven by a sharper goalscoring record.
Davor Šuker edges it (a clear margin)
