José Luis Chilavert vs Paul Ince: Stats Compared
Goalkeeper, Paraguay (born 1965, retired 2004) · Central Midfielder, England (born 1967, retired 2006)
Line up José Luis Chilavert next to Paul Ince and the contrasts come quickly. Strip away the highlights and the medal count tells its own story for each man. The raw numbers read 67 goals in 737 outings for José Luis Chilavert (0.09/game), versus 90 in 650 for Paul Ince (0.14/game). Assists were not reliably tracked for much of their careers, which makes the playmaking comparison an imperfect one; where records exist, José Luis Chilavert is credited with 0 and Paul Ince with 60. The honours ledger favours José Luis Chilavert with 8 major trophies (1× Copa Libertadores (1994)) against Paul Ince's 4 (2× Premier League (1993, 1994)). José Luis Chilavert built his medal haul through years of reflex-sharp consistency, while Paul Ince won his with silky bursts of brilliance. The wider career context matters too: José Luis Chilavert peaked around 1994 after representing San Lorenzo, Real Zaragoza, Vélez Sarsfield, Strasbourg, while Paul Ince's defining level came around 1994 across West Ham United, Manchester United, Inter Milan, Liverpool, Middlesbrough, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Swindon Town. The honest conclusion is that comparison enriches appreciation rather than crowns a single winner.
187 words · comparison angle: trophies
Player profiles
José Luis Félix Chilavert González is a Paraguayan former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Sportivo Luqueño, Guaraní, San Lorenzo de Almagro, Real Zaragoza, Vélez Sarsfield, RC Strasbourg, Peñarol and the Paraguay national team. Chilavert won 12 club titles, including the 1994 Copa Libertadores and the 1994 Intercontinental Cup, while playing for Vélez Sarsfield, and is a three-time IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper award winner. A fast and agile shot-stopper, known for his leadership, strong personality, and goalkeeping ability, he was regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world in his prime; outside of his goalkeeping position, Chilavert was also known for his outfield skills and ability as a free kick specialist, and often took penalties.
“A commanding goalkeeper and set-piece specialist who made scoring from distance part of his job.”
The first Black player to captain England, Ince was a combative, driving midfielder at the heart of Manchester United's early Premier League dominance.
“An aggressive, all-action midfielder whose tackling and late runs into the box made him a formidable box-to-box presence.”
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× Copa Libertadores (1994)
- 2× Premier League (1993, 1994)
- 2× FA Cup (1990, 1994)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1986 Established himself at San Lorenzo
- 1990 Reached his defining peak
- 1994 Delivered a landmark season
- 2004 Retired from professional football
- 1986 Professional debut for West Ham United
- 1993 Won Premier League with Manchester United
- 1990 Won FA Cup with Manchester United
- 1994 Reached the peak of his powers at Manchester United
- 2006 Retired after a final spell at Swindon Town
- Finished his career with 90 goals in 650 appearances and 4 major honours. Finished his career with 90 goals in 650 appearances and 4 major honours.
The verdict
Weighing production, silverware and profile, the two finish within a whisker of each other. Call it a respectful draw — greatness of this calibre resists a single winner.
Too close to call — a respectful draw
