Franz Beckenbauer vs Teófilo Cubillas: Stats Compared
Sweeper / Centre-Back, Germany (born 1945, retired 1983) · Attacking Midfielder, Peru (born 1949, retired 1989)
Ask any fan to rank Franz Beckenbauer above or below Teófilo Cubillas and you will get a passionate answer. Separated by their years at the top, each defined the football of their own generation. On production alone, Franz Beckenbauer posted 81 goals across 776 appearances while Teófilo Cubillas managed 220 across 500. Reliable assist tallies simply do not exist for large stretches of their careers, leaving creativity to the eye rather than the spreadsheet. Trophy counts give Franz Beckenbauer 16 and Teófilo Cubillas 4, with 1× FIFA World Cup (1974) and 4× Peruvian Primera División (1967, 1969, 1970, 1978) the standout honours respectively. Across the 1970s and the 1970s respectively, their uncompromising and incisive styles captured the spirit of very different footballing times. Their routes to the top were distinct: Franz Beckenbauer built his reputation across Bayern Munich, Hamburg, New York Cosmos, peaking around 1974, 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.
182 words · comparison angle: era
Player profiles
German defender who revolutionised the sweeper role; the only man to win the World Cup as both captain (1974) and manager (1990).
“A graceful attacking sweeper who reinvented the libero role with composure and peerless reading of the game.”
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× FIFA World Cup (1974)
- 1× UEFA European Championship (1972)
- 3× European Cup (1974, 1975, 1976)
- 5× Bundesliga (1969, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1982)
- 4× DFB-Pokal
- 1× UEFA Cup Winners' Cup (1967)
- 1× Intercontinental Cup (1976)
- 4× Peruvian Primera División (1967, 1969, 1970, 1978)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1964 Bayern Munich senior debut
- 1966 Won the DFB-Pokal, his first major trophy
- 1972 Euro winner with West Germany
- 1974 World Cup winner as captain in Munich
- 1976 Third consecutive European Cup with Bayern
- 1977 Joined New York Cosmos
- 1983 Came out of retirement to play for Hamburg
- 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
If forced to pick, Franz Beckenbauer is the choice: a decisive margin, with a weightier trophy cabinet the deciding factor.
Franz Beckenbauer edges it (a decisive margin)
