David Silva vs Carlos Tevez: Stats Compared
Attacking Midfielder, Spain (born 1986, retired 2023) · Striker, Argentina (born 1984, retired 2021)
Few debates split football fans quite like David Silva versus Carlos Tevez. Goals are the coldest, hardest metric in football, and both players stockedpile them. Career output puts David Silva at 124 goals in 771 games, with Carlos Tevez at 280 in 700. Assists were not reliably tracked for much of their careers, which makes the playmaking comparison an imperfect one; where records exist, David Silva is credited with 0 and Carlos Tevez with 90. David Silva departs the game with 9 major pieces of silverware, including 1× FIFA World Cup (2010); Carlos Tevez with 5, including 1× Premier League (2012). Where David Silva was a creative presence in the box, Carlos Tevez offered a ruthless approach to goalscoring. Their routes to the top were distinct: David Silva built his reputation across Valencia, Manchester City, Real Sociedad, peaking around 2012, while Carlos Tevez reached his defining level around 2011 after spells with Boca Juniors, Corinthians, West Ham United, Manchester United, Manchester City, Juventus, Boca Juniors, Shanghai Shenhua, Boca Juniors. Few pairings invite such entrenched disagreement, and fewer still deserve it this much.
182 words · comparison angle: goalscoring
Player profiles
David Josué Jiménez Silva (born 8 January 1986) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played mainly as a central or an attacking midfielder and occasionally as a winger or second striker. Widely regarded as one of the best players of his generation and among the greatest players in Premier League history, he was known for his balance, ball control and agility in close spaces, combined with his skill, composure, passing and flair on the ball. Silva spent seven years of his professional career with Valencia, playing from 2004 to 2010, and won the Copa del Rey in 2008.
“A pocket-sized conductor whose close control and passing gave Manchester City its early rhythm.”
A tenacious, street-smart Argentine striker known as 'El Apache', beloved for his relentless work rate and hunger for goals.
“A combative, low-centre-of-gravity forward who pressed relentlessly and thrived on scrappy, instinctive finishes.”
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 (2010)
- 1× Premier League (2012)
- 2× Serie A (2014, 2015)
- 1× Copa Libertadores (2003)
- 1× Argentine Primera División (2003)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 2004 Established himself at Valencia
- 2008 Reached his defining peak
- 2012 Delivered a landmark season
- 2023 Retired from professional football
- 2001 Professional debut for Boca Juniors
- 2012 Won Premier League with Manchester City
- 2003 Won Argentine Primera División with Boca Juniors
- 2011 Reached the peak of his powers at Manchester City
- 2021 Retired after a final spell at Boca Juniors
- Finished his career with 280 goals in 700 appearances and 5 major honours. Finished his career with 280 goals in 700 appearances and 5 major honours.
The verdict
If forced to pick, David Silva is the choice: a decisive margin, with a weightier trophy cabinet the deciding factor.
David Silva edges it (a decisive margin)
