Davor Šuker vs Raymond Kopa: Stats Compared
Striker, Croatia (born 1968, retired 2003) · Forward, France (born 1931, retired 1967)
Put Davor Šuker and Raymond Kopa side by side and you have a genuine generational conversation. Trophies, more than goals, are how most supporters ultimately remember a career. Davor Šuker finishes with 273 career goals from 526 games — a 0.52 strike rate — against Raymond Kopa's 150 from 450 at 0.33 per match. Reliable assist tallies simply do not exist for large stretches of their careers, leaving creativity to the eye rather than the spreadsheet. In major honours Davor Šuker collected 8 — headlined by 1× UEFA Champions League (1998) — whereas Raymond Kopa amassed 5, led by 3× European Cup (1957, 1958, 1959). One lifted trophies through clinical reliability, the other through ruthless moments that decided finals. 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; Raymond Kopa's came around 1958 across Angers, Reims, Real Madrid, Reims. Rank them how you like — both names are carved into the sport's permanent record.
170 words · comparison angle: trophies
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.”
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.”
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)
- 3× European Cup (1957, 1958, 1959)
- 2× Ligue 1 (1953, 1960)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1990 Established himself at Osijek
- 1994 Reached his defining peak
- 1998 Delivered a landmark season
- 2003 Retired from professional football
- 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.
The verdict
The numbers give Davor Šuker the lead — a decisive margin, courtesy of a sharper goalscoring record.
Davor Šuker edges it (a decisive margin)
