Garrincha vs Teófilo Cubillas: Stats Compared
Right Winger, Brazil (born 1933, retired 1972) · Attacking Midfielder, Peru (born 1949, retired 1989)
The Garrincha–Teófilo Cubillas comparison is one of those fixtures of footballing folklore. They belonged to different eras, which makes any direct comparison a test of imagination as much as statistics. The raw numbers read 245 goals in 612 outings for Garrincha (0.40/game), versus 220 in 500 for Teófilo Cubillas (0.44/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 Garrincha with 9 major trophies (2× FIFA World Cup (1958, 1962)) against Teófilo Cubillas's 4 (4× Peruvian Primera División (1967, 1969, 1970, 1978)). Across the post-war golden age and the 1970s respectively, their predatory and orchestrating styles captured the spirit of very different footballing times. Club journeys add another layer, with Garrincha reaching his representative peak around 1962 across Botafogo, Corinthians, Flamengo and Teófilo Cubillas doing so around 1978 with Alianza Lima, FC Basel, Alianza Lima, FC Porto, Fort Lauderdale Strikers, Alianza Lima. Few pairings invite such entrenched disagreement, and fewer still deserve it this much.
172 words · comparison angle: era
Player profiles
Manuel Francisco dos Santos (28 October 1933 – 20 January 1983), nicknamed Mané Garrincha, best known as simply Garrincha, was a Brazilian professional footballer who played as a right winger. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, and by many, one of the greatest dribblers ever. Garrincha played a vital role in Brazil's 1958 and 1962 World Cup victories.
“A joyful dribbler whose balance and feints made the right flank his personal stage.”
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
- 2× FIFA World Cup (1958, 1962)
- 4× Peruvian Primera División (1967, 1969, 1970, 1978)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1954 Established himself at Botafogo
- 1958 Reached his defining peak
- 1962 Delivered a landmark season
- 1972 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
Weighing production against honours, Garrincha takes the verdict — a clear margin, driven by a weightier trophy cabinet.
Garrincha edges it (a clear margin)
