George Best vs Tostão: Stats Compared
Winger / Forward, Northern Ireland (born 1946, retired 1984) · Striker, Brazil (born 1947, retired 1973)
There is something timeless about weighing George Best against Tostão. Comparing across positions is never straightforward, and these two asked different questions of opponents. George Best finishes with 214 career goals from 616 games — a 0.35 strike rate — against Tostão's 260 from 450 at 0.58 per match. Reliable assist tallies simply do not exist for large stretches of their careers, leaving creativity to the eye rather than the spreadsheet. George Best departs the game with 5 major pieces of silverware, including 1× European Cup (1968); Tostão with 4, including 1× FIFA World Cup (1970). The winger / forward duties of George Best leaned clinical; the striker responsibilities of Tostão leaned ruthless. The wider career context matters too: George Best peaked around 1968 after representing Manchester United, Fulham, others, while Tostão's defining level came around 1970 across Cruzeiro, Vasco da Gama. Picking between them says as much about the picker as the players.
154 words · comparison angle: role
Player profiles
Northern Irish winger and Manchester United icon; Ballon d'Or winner in 1968 after helping Manchester United win their first European Cup.
“A balance-perfect winger who combined dribbling flair with an eye for goal and a rock-star aura.”
A key attacking partner to Pelé in the legendary 1970 World Cup-winning side, Tostão's career was tragically cut short by a detached retina at just 26.
“A clever, technically gifted forward whose intelligent movement and passing made him the connective tissue of Brazil's 1970 attack.”
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× European Cup (1968)
- 2× English First Division (1965, 1967)
- 2× FA Charity Shield (1965, 1967)
- 1× FIFA World Cup (1970)
- 3× Campeonato Mineiro (1966, 1967, 1968)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1963 Manchester United debut aged 17
- 1965 First English First Division title
- 1968 European Cup winner and Ballon d'Or winner
- 1968 Joint top scorer in the First Division
- 1972 Brief retirement then return to Manchester United
- 1974 Left Manchester United
- 1984 Made final professional appearances in the United States
- 1963 Professional debut for Cruzeiro
- 1970 Won FIFA World Cup with Cruzeiro
- 1966 Won Campeonato Mineiro with Cruzeiro
- 1970 Reached the peak of his powers at Cruzeiro
- 1973 Retired after a final spell at Vasco da Gama
- Finished his career with 260 goals in 450 appearances and 4 major honours. Finished his career with 260 goals in 450 appearances and 4 major honours.
The verdict
The numbers give George Best the lead — a clear margin, courtesy of a stronger all-round attribute profile.
George Best edges it (a clear margin)
