Gianluigi Buffon vs Elías Figueroa: Stats Compared
Goalkeeper, Italy (born 1978, retired 2023) · Centre-Back, Chile (born 1946, retired 1982)
When Gianluigi Buffon and Elías Figueroa are mentioned in the same breath, opinions rarely stay quiet. Position shapes everything in football, and these two fulfilled very different briefs. Across his senior career Gianluigi Buffon notched 1 goals in 1147 appearances (0.00 per game), while Elías Figueroa recorded 40 in 600 (0.07 per game). 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 Gianluigi Buffon collected 15 — headlined by 1× FIFA World Cup (2006) — whereas Elías Figueroa amassed 5, led by 2× Uruguayan Primera División (1967, 1968). The goalkeeper duties of Gianluigi Buffon leaned reflex-sharp; the centre-back responsibilities of Elías Figueroa leaned commanding. The wider career context matters too: Gianluigi Buffon peaked around 2006 after representing Parma, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, Parma, while Elías Figueroa's defining level came around 1974 across Santiago Wanderers, Peñarol, Internacional, Palestino, Fort Lauderdale Strikers. Rank them how you like — both names are carved into the sport's permanent record.
170 words · comparison angle: role
Player profiles
Italian goalkeeper and the most capped Italian player of all time; 2006 World Cup winner and ten-time Serie A champion.
“An authoritative, athletic keeper whose longevity made him the most-capped goalkeeper in history.”
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
- 1× FIFA World Cup (2006)
- 10× Serie A
- 2× Coppa Italia
- 1× UEFA Cup (1999)
- 1× Ligue 1 (2019)
- 2× Uruguayan Primera División (1967, 1968)
- 3× Campeonato Gaúcho (1973, 1974, 1975)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1995 Parma debut
- 2001 World-record keeper transfer to Juventus
- 2003 Lost the Champions League final on penalties
- 2006 World Cup winner with Italy
- 2018 Joined Paris Saint-Germain
- 2019 Returned to Juventus
- 2023 Scored a career goal for Parma in Serie B
- 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
Weighing production against honours, Gianluigi Buffon takes the verdict — a decisive margin, driven by a weightier trophy cabinet.
Gianluigi Buffon edges it (a decisive margin)
