David Villa vs Teófilo Cubillas: Stats Compared
Striker, Spain (born 1981, retired 2020) · Attacking Midfielder, Peru (born 1949, retired 1989)
When David Villa and Teófilo Cubillas are mentioned in the same breath, opinions rarely stay quiet. Both built reputations on finding the back of the net, but they did it in markedly different ways. On production alone, David Villa posted 376 goals across 752 appearances while Teófilo Cubillas managed 220 across 500. Assists were never formally recorded across most of their eras, so the playmaking dimension has to be judged on reputation and highlights rather than hard totals. Trophy counts give David Villa 9 and Teófilo Cubillas 4, with 1× FIFA World Cup (2010) and 4× Peruvian Primera División (1967, 1969, 1970, 1978) the standout honours respectively. David Villa scored with a explosive that defined his era, while Teófilo Cubillas's finishing carried a orchestrating all of its own. The wider career context matters too: David Villa peaked around 2010 after representing Sporting Gijón, Valencia, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, while Teófilo Cubillas's defining level came around 1978 across Alianza Lima, FC Basel, Alianza Lima, FC Porto, Fort Lauderdale Strikers, Alianza Lima. Whichever side you land on, both belong in any conversation about the finest of their generation.
185 words · comparison angle: goalscoring
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.”
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
- 1× FIFA World Cup (2010)
- 4× Peruvian Primera División (1967, 1969, 1970, 1978)
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
- 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 David Villa wins out by a decisive margin on the weight of a sharper goalscoring record.
David Villa edges it (a decisive margin)
