Garrincha vs Elías Figueroa: Stats Compared
Right Winger, Brazil (born 1933, retired 1972) · Centre-Back, Chile (born 1946, retired 1982)
There is something timeless about weighing Garrincha against Elías Figueroa. Greatness, in the end, is about who you inspired, and both left a footprint far beyond their own careers. Garrincha finishes with 245 career goals from 612 games — a 0.40 strike rate — against Elías Figueroa's 40 from 600 at 0.07 per match. 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. In major honours Garrincha collected 9 — headlined by 2× FIFA World Cup (1958, 1962) — whereas Elías Figueroa amassed 5, led by 2× Uruguayan Primera División (1967, 1968). Their legacies diverge in texture: Garrincha is remembered as ruthless, Elías Figueroa as uncompromising. Their routes to the top were distinct: Garrincha built his reputation across Botafogo, Corinthians, Flamengo, peaking around 1962, while Elías Figueroa reached his defining level around 1974 after spells with Santiago Wanderers, Peñarol, Internacional, Palestino, Fort Lauderdale Strikers. Rank them how you like — both names are carved into the sport's permanent record.
176 words · comparison angle: legacy
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.”
A three-time South American Footballer of the Year, Figueroa is widely considered the finest defender the continent has produced, marshalling Internacional's dominant 1970s side.
“An imperious, elegant centre-back who combined aerial dominance with composed distribution well ahead of his era.”
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)
- 2× Uruguayan Primera División (1967, 1968)
- 3× Campeonato Gaúcho (1973, 1974, 1975)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1954 Established himself at Botafogo
- 1958 Reached his defining peak
- 1962 Delivered a landmark season
- 1972 Retired from professional football
- 1965 Professional debut for Santiago Wanderers
- 1967 Won Uruguayan Primera División with Peñarol
- 1973 Won Campeonato Gaúcho with Internacional
- 1974 Reached the peak of his powers at Internacional
- 1982 Retired after a final spell at Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Finished his career with 40 goals in 600 appearances and 5 major honours. Finished his career with 40 goals in 600 appearances and 5 major honours.
The verdict
On balance Garrincha edges the comparison. The margin is a clear margin, decided mostly by a sharper goalscoring record.
Garrincha edges it (a clear margin)
