Nicolas Anelka vs Teófilo Cubillas: Stats Compared
Striker, France (born 1979, retired 2015) · Attacking Midfielder, Peru (born 1949, retired 1989)
Put Nicolas Anelka and Teófilo Cubillas side by side and you have a genuine generational conversation. It is in how they played, rather than what they won, that the comparison gets interesting. Nicolas Anelka finishes with 300 career goals from 800 games — a 0.38 strike rate — against Teófilo Cubillas's 220 from 500 at 0.44 per match. Assists were not reliably tracked for much of their careers, which makes the playmaking comparison an imperfect one; where records exist, Nicolas Anelka is credited with 90 and Teófilo Cubillas with 0. Nicolas Anelka departs the game with 4 major pieces of silverware, including 2× Premier League (1998, 2010); Teófilo Cubillas with 4, including 4× Peruvian Primera División (1967, 1969, 1970, 1978). Stylistically Nicolas Anelka was mercurial where Teófilo Cubillas was dictatorial — two vocabularies of the same sport. Their routes to the top were distinct: Nicolas Anelka built his reputation across Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City, Fenerbahçe, Bolton Wanderers, Chelsea, Shanghai Shenhua, West Bromwich Albion, Mumbai City, peaking around 2009, while Teófilo Cubillas reached his defining level around 1978 after spells with Alianza Lima, FC Basel, Alianza Lima, FC Porto, Fort Lauderdale Strikers, Alianza Lima. Picking between them says as much about the picker as the players.
210 words · comparison angle: style
Player profiles
A supremely talented but nomadic French striker, Anelka won titles in four different countries, culminating in Chelsea's 2012 Champions League triumph.
“A quick, clinical striker with excellent movement in behind, though a reputation for a wandering, restless career.”
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
- 2× Premier League (1998, 2010)
- 1× La Liga (2000)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2012)
- 4× Peruvian Primera División (1967, 1969, 1970, 1978)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1995 Professional debut for Paris Saint-Germain
- 1998 Won Premier League with Arsenal
- 2012 Won UEFA Champions League with Chelsea
- 2009 Reached the peak of his powers at Chelsea
- 2015 Retired after a final spell at Mumbai City
- Finished his career with 300 goals in 800 appearances and 4 major honours. Finished his career with 300 goals in 800 appearances and 4 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
Taking goals, assists, silverware and overall profile together, Nicolas Anelka takes it by a clear margin.
Nicolas Anelka edges it (a clear margin)
