Eusébio vs Teófilo Cubillas: Stats Compared
Striker, Portugal (born 1942, retired 1978) · Attacking Midfielder, Peru (born 1949, retired 1989)
Put Eusébio and Teófilo Cubillas side by side and you have a genuine generational conversation. Honours are what separate great players from trophy-laden legends, and both qualify. Across his senior career Eusébio notched 623 goals in 715 appearances (0.87 per game), while Teófilo Cubillas recorded 220 in 500 (0.44 per game). Reliable assist tallies simply do not exist for large stretches of their careers, leaving creativity to the eye rather than the spreadsheet. Eusébio departs the game with 9 major pieces of silverware, including 1× European Cup (1962); Teófilo Cubillas with 4, including 4× Peruvian Primera División (1967, 1969, 1970, 1978). One lifted trophies through ruthless reliability, the other through orchestrating moments that decided finals. The wider career context matters too: Eusébio peaked around 1965 after representing Benfica, Montréal Manic, while Teófilo Cubillas's defining level came around 1978 across Alianza Lima, FC Basel, Alianza Lima, FC Porto, Fort Lauderdale Strikers, Alianza Lima. Greatness, in cases like this, is rarely a zero-sum affair.
162 words · comparison angle: trophies
Player profiles
Eusébio da Silva Ferreira (25 January 1942 – 5 January 2014), nicknamed the "Black Panther", the "Black Pearl" and "o Rei" ("the King"), was a Portuguese footballer who played as a striker. He is considered one of the greatest players of all time and Benfica’s greatest player. Known for his speed, technique, athleticism and right-footed shot, he became one of football’s most prolific goalscorers.
“A powerful, explosive striker who combined pace, technique and a thunderous shot.”
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× European Cup (1962)
- 4× Peruvian Primera División (1967, 1969, 1970, 1978)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1957 Established himself at Benfica
- 1961 Reached his defining peak
- 1965 Delivered a landmark season
- 1978 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
On balance Eusébio edges the comparison. The margin is a decisive margin, decided mostly by a sharper goalscoring record.
Eusébio edges it (a decisive margin)
