Ryan Giggs vs Teófilo Cubillas: Stats Compared
Winger, Wales (born 1973, retired 2014) · Attacking Midfielder, Peru (born 1949, retired 1989)
Line up Ryan Giggs next to Teófilo Cubillas and the contrasts come quickly. Goals are the coldest, hardest metric in football, and both players stockedpile them. The raw numbers read 180 goals in 1027 outings for Ryan Giggs (0.18/game), versus 220 in 500 for Teófilo Cubillas (0.44/game). Modern assist data only covers part of their careers, so creativity is hard to compare cleanly — Ryan Giggs is listed at 200 and Teófilo Cubillas at 0 where figures survive. Ryan Giggs departs the game with 24 major pieces of silverware, including 2× UEFA Champions League (1999, 2008); Teófilo Cubillas with 4, including 4× Peruvian Primera División (1967, 1969, 1970, 1978). Ryan Giggs scored with a intelligent that defined his era, while Teófilo Cubillas's finishing carried a intelligent all of its own. Their routes to the top were distinct: Ryan Giggs built his reputation across Manchester United, peaking around 1999, while Teófilo Cubillas reached his defining level around 1978 after spells 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.
186 words · comparison angle: goalscoring
Player profiles
Manchester United's most decorated player and the most decorated in Premier League history with 13 league titles; one-club man.
“A flying left winger in his youth who evolved into a clever central midfielder across a 24-year career.”
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× UEFA Champions League (1999, 2008)
- 13× Premier League
- 4× FA Cup
- 4× EFL Cup
- 1× FIFA Club World Cup (2008)
- 4× Peruvian Primera División (1967, 1969, 1970, 1978)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1991 Manchester United debut aged 17
- 1993 First Premier League title
- 1999 Scored the winner in the FA Cup semi-final replay against Arsenal
- 1999 Treble winner with Manchester United
- 2008 Won his second Champions League
- 2014 Retired as a one-club man
- 2014 Took over as Manchester United player-coach briefly
- 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
Taking goals, assists, silverware and overall profile together, Ryan Giggs takes it by a decisive margin.
Ryan Giggs edges it (a decisive margin)
