David Villa vs José Luis Chilavert: Stats Compared
Striker, Spain (born 1981, retired 2020) · Goalkeeper, Paraguay (born 1965, retired 2004)
David Villa versus José Luis Chilavert is a clash of two unmistakable footballing identities. Beyond the numbers, each man brought a singular aesthetic to the pitch. Across his senior career David Villa notched 376 goals in 752 appearances (0.50 per game), while José Luis Chilavert recorded 67 in 737 (0.09 per game). Because assists were not systematically tracked for much of their time, that side of the comparison rests on the footage that survives. David Villa departs the game with 9 major pieces of silverware, including 1× FIFA World Cup (2010); José Luis Chilavert with 8, including 1× Copa Libertadores (1994). David Villa played with a clinical that made him unmistakable; José Luis Chilavert brought a reflex-sharp that was equally his own. Context beyond the headline totals is important: David Villa's landmark level arrived around 2010 with a career spanning Sporting Gijón, Valencia, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid; José Luis Chilavert's came around 1994 across San Lorenzo, Real Zaragoza, Vélez Sarsfield, Strasbourg. Picking between them says as much about the picker as the players.
172 words · comparison angle: style
Player profiles
David Villa Sánchez is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a striker. Regarded as one of the best strikers of his generation, Villa is the all-time top goalscorer of the Spain national team. He is currently the vice-president of Spanish Tercera Federación club CF Benidorm and a member of the Board of Directors of La Liga club Atlético Madrid.
“A two-footed finisher who attacked channels intelligently and struck cleanly from distance.”
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.”
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× Copa Libertadores (1994)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 2002 Established himself at Sporting Gijón
- 2006 Reached his defining peak
- 2010 Delivered a landmark season
- 2020 Retired from professional football
- 1986 Established himself at San Lorenzo
- 1990 Reached his defining peak
- 1994 Delivered a landmark season
- 2004 Retired from professional football
The verdict
On balance David Villa edges the comparison. The margin is a decisive margin, decided mostly by a sharper goalscoring record.
David Villa edges it (a decisive margin)
