Carlos Tevez vs Teófilo Cubillas: Stats Compared
Striker, Argentina (born 1984, retired 2021) · Attacking Midfielder, Peru (born 1949, retired 1989)
Ask any fan to rank Carlos Tevez above or below Teófilo Cubillas and you will get a passionate answer. Legacy is the only real measure that outlives the numbers, and both have staked towering claims. Across his senior career Carlos Tevez notched 280 goals in 700 appearances (0.40 per game), while Teófilo Cubillas recorded 220 in 500 (0.44 per game). Assists were not reliably tracked for much of their careers, which makes the playmaking comparison an imperfect one; where records exist, Carlos Tevez is credited with 90 and Teófilo Cubillas with 0. Carlos Tevez departs the game with 5 major pieces of silverware, including 1× Premier League (2012); Teófilo Cubillas with 4, including 4× Peruvian Primera División (1967, 1969, 1970, 1978). History will file Carlos Tevez under explosive greatness and Teófilo Cubillas under orchestrating greatness — different shelves, same temple. Context beyond the headline totals is important: Carlos Tevez's landmark level arrived around 2011 with a career spanning Boca Juniors, Corinthians, West Ham United, Manchester United, Manchester City, Juventus, Boca Juniors, Shanghai Shenhua, Boca Juniors; Teófilo Cubillas's came around 1978 across Alianza Lima, FC Basel, Alianza Lima, FC Porto, Fort Lauderdale Strikers, Alianza Lima. Whichever side you land on, both belong in any conversation about the finest of their generation.
210 words · comparison angle: legacy
Player profiles
A tenacious, street-smart Argentine striker known as 'El Apache', beloved for his relentless work rate and hunger for goals.
“A combative, low-centre-of-gravity forward who pressed relentlessly and thrived on scrappy, instinctive finishes.”
Peru's greatest ever player, Cubillas remains the only man to score five goals across two separate World Cups, inspiring Peru's celebrated 1978 side.
“A quick, two-footed attacking midfielder renowned for a ferocious long-range shot and clever dribbling in tight spaces.”
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× Premier League (2012)
- 2× Serie A (2014, 2015)
- 1× Copa Libertadores (2003)
- 1× Argentine Primera División (2003)
- 4× Peruvian Primera División (1967, 1969, 1970, 1978)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 2001 Professional debut for Boca Juniors
- 2012 Won Premier League with Manchester City
- 2003 Won Argentine Primera División with Boca Juniors
- 2011 Reached the peak of his powers at Manchester City
- 2021 Retired after a final spell at Boca Juniors
- Finished his career with 280 goals in 700 appearances and 5 major honours. Finished his career with 280 goals in 700 appearances and 5 major honours.
- 1966 Professional debut for Alianza Lima
- 1967 Won Peruvian Primera División with Alianza Lima
- 1978 Reached the peak of his powers at Alianza Lima
- 1989 Retired after a final spell at Alianza Lima
- Finished his career with 220 goals in 500 appearances and 4 major honours. Finished his career with 220 goals in 500 appearances and 4 major honours.
The verdict
Reasonable people will disagree, but Carlos Tevez wins out by a clear margin on the weight of a sharper goalscoring record.
Carlos Tevez edges it (a clear margin)
