Careca vs Teófilo Cubillas: Stats Compared
Striker, Brazil (born 1960, retired 1994) · Attacking Midfielder, Peru (born 1949, retired 1989)
When Careca and Teófilo Cubillas 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 Careca notched 300 goals in 600 appearances (0.50 per game), while Teófilo Cubillas recorded 220 in 500 (0.44 per game). Modern assist data only covers part of their careers, so creativity is hard to compare cleanly — Careca is listed at 30 and Teófilo Cubillas at 0 where figures survive. Careca departs the game with 4 major pieces of silverware, including 2× Serie A (1987, 1990); Teófilo Cubillas with 4, including 4× Peruvian Primera División (1967, 1969, 1970, 1978). As a striker Careca bent the role to a explosive template; as a attacking midfielder, Teófilo Cubillas redefined it with silky authority. Club journeys add another layer, with Careca reaching his representative peak around 1988 across Guarani, São Paulo, Napoli, Kashima Antlers and Teófilo Cubillas doing so around 1978 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.
185 words · comparison angle: role
Player profiles
Diego Maradona's strike partner at Napoli, Careca formed one of Serie A's most feared attacking duos, helping the club to its first two Scudetti.
“A sharp, technically excellent striker whose close combination play and clinical finishing perfectly complemented a more individualist strike partner.”
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× Serie A (1987, 1990)
- 1× UEFA Cup (1989)
- 1× Coppa Italia (1987)
- 4× Peruvian Primera División (1967, 1969, 1970, 1978)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1978 Professional debut for Guarani
- 1987 Won Serie A with São Paulo
- 1987 Won Coppa Italia with São Paulo
- 1988 Reached the peak of his powers at Napoli
- 1994 Retired after a final spell at Kashima Antlers
- Finished his career with 300 goals in 600 appearances and 4 major honours. Finished his career with 300 goals in 600 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
Reasonable people will disagree, but Careca wins out by a narrow margin on the weight of a sharper goalscoring record.
Careca edges it (a narrow margin)
