Geoff Hurst vs Raymond Kopa: Stats Compared
Striker, England (born 1941, retired 1976) · Forward, France (born 1931, retired 1967)
Line up Geoff Hurst next to Raymond Kopa and the contrasts come quickly. It is in how they played, rather than what they won, that the comparison gets interesting. Across his senior career Geoff Hurst notched 250 goals in 650 appearances (0.38 per game), while Raymond Kopa recorded 150 in 450 (0.33 per game). Because assists were not systematically tracked for much of their time, that side of the comparison rests on the footage that survives. In major honours Geoff Hurst collected 3 — headlined by 1× FIFA World Cup (1966) — whereas Raymond Kopa amassed 5, led by 3× European Cup (1957, 1958, 1959). Geoff Hurst played with a ruthless that made him unmistakable; Raymond Kopa brought a predatory that was equally his own. Club journeys add another layer, with Geoff Hurst reaching his representative peak around 1966 across West Ham United, Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion and Raymond Kopa doing so around 1958 with Angers, Reims, Real Madrid, Reims. Few pairings invite such entrenched disagreement, and fewer still deserve it this much.
174 words · comparison angle: style
Player profiles
The only player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final, Hurst's three goals for England against West Germany in 1966 remain one of football's most iconic feats.
“A powerful, intelligent striker whose aerial ability and clinical finishing made the difference on the biggest stage of all.”
France's first football superstar and 1958 Ballon d'Or winner, Kopa won three straight European Cups alongside Di Stéfano at Real Madrid before returning to lead Reims.
“A diminutive, dazzling dribbler and creator whose vision and close control made him the conductor of every attack he played in.”
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 (1966)
- 1× FA Cup (1964)
- 1× UEFA Cup Winners' Cup (1965)
- 3× European Cup (1957, 1958, 1959)
- 2× Ligue 1 (1953, 1960)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1959 Professional debut for West Ham United
- 1966 Won FIFA World Cup with West Ham United
- 1965 Won UEFA Cup Winners' Cup with West Ham United
- 1966 Reached the peak of his powers at West Ham United
- 1976 Retired after a final spell at West Bromwich Albion
- Finished his career with 250 goals in 650 appearances and 3 major honours. Finished his career with 250 goals in 650 appearances and 3 major honours.
- 1949 Professional debut for Angers
- 1957 Won European Cup with Real Madrid
- 1953 Won Ligue 1 with Reims
- 1958 Reached the peak of his powers at Real Madrid
- 1967 Retired after a final spell at Reims
- Finished his career with 150 goals in 450 appearances and 5 major honours. Finished his career with 150 goals in 450 appearances and 5 major honours.
The verdict
Taking goals, assists, silverware and overall profile together, Geoff Hurst takes it by a narrow margin.
Geoff Hurst edges it (a narrow margin)
