David Silva vs Tostão: Stats Compared
Attacking Midfielder, Spain (born 1986, retired 2023) · Striker, Brazil (born 1947, retired 1973)
When David Silva and Tostão are mentioned in the same breath, opinions rarely stay quiet. Strikers are judged on goals, and on that raw currency both men delivered extraordinary returns. Across his senior career David Silva notched 124 goals in 771 appearances (0.16 per game), while Tostão recorded 260 in 450 (0.58 per game). Because assists were not systematically tracked for much of their time, that side of the comparison rests on the footage that survives. The honours ledger favours David Silva with 9 major trophies (1× FIFA World Cup (2010)) against Tostão's 4 (1× FIFA World Cup (1970)). Where David Silva was a silky presence in the box, Tostão offered a mercurial approach to goalscoring. Context beyond the headline totals is important: David Silva's landmark level arrived around 2012 with a career spanning Valencia, Manchester City, Real Sociedad; Tostão's came around 1970 across Cruzeiro, Vasco da Gama. Greatness, in cases like this, is rarely a zero-sum affair.
158 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 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× FIFA World Cup (2010)
- 1× FIFA World Cup (1970)
- 3× Campeonato Mineiro (1966, 1967, 1968)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 2004 Established himself at Valencia
- 2008 Reached his defining peak
- 2012 Delivered a landmark season
- 2023 Retired from professional football
- 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
Reasonable people will disagree, but David Silva wins out by a decisive margin on the weight of a weightier trophy cabinet.
David Silva edges it (a decisive margin)
