Nemanja Vidić vs Elías Figueroa: Stats Compared
Centre-Back, Serbia (born 1981, retired 2016) · Centre-Back, Chile (born 1946, retired 1982)
Put Nemanja Vidić and Elías Figueroa side by side and you have a genuine generational conversation. Greatness, in the end, is about who you inspired, and both left a footprint far beyond their own careers. On production alone, Nemanja Vidić posted 29 goals across 518 appearances while Elías Figueroa managed 40 across 600. 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 Nemanja Vidić collected 8 — headlined by 5× Premier League (2007–2013) — whereas Elías Figueroa amassed 5, led by 2× Uruguayan Primera División (1967, 1968). Their legacies diverge in texture: Nemanja Vidić is remembered as resolute, Elías Figueroa as resolute. The wider career context matters too: Nemanja Vidić peaked around 2009 after representing Red Star Belgrade, Spartak Moscow, Manchester United, Inter, 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: legacy
Player profiles
Nemanja Vidić is a Serbian former professional footballer who played as a centre-back. Widely considered as one of the greatest defenders of all time, Vidić is best known for his time at Manchester United, where he won 15 trophies and served as club captain. He is one of only five players to win the Premier League Player of the Season award twice, alongside Thierry Henry, Kevin De Bruyne, Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah.
“A fearless centre-back who dominated the air and treated every duel as a personal contest.”
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× Premier League (2007–2013)
- 2× Uruguayan Primera División (1967, 1968)
- 3× Campeonato Gaúcho (1973, 1974, 1975)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 2001 Established himself at Red Star Belgrade
- 2005 Reached his defining peak
- 2009 Delivered a landmark season
- 2016 Retired from professional football
- 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
Taking goals, assists, silverware and overall profile together, Nemanja Vidić takes it by a clear margin.
Nemanja Vidić edges it (a clear margin)
