Andrés Iniesta vs Teófilo Cubillas: Stats Compared
Central / Attacking Midfielder, Spain (born 1984, retired 2023) · Attacking Midfielder, Peru (born 1949, retired 1989)
The Andrés Iniesta–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 88 goals in 945 outings for Andrés Iniesta (0.09/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 — Andrés Iniesta is listed at 200 and Teófilo Cubillas at 0 where figures survive. Andrés Iniesta departs the game with 25 major pieces of silverware, including 1× FIFA World Cup (2010); Teófilo Cubillas with 4, including 4× Peruvian Primera División (1967, 1969, 1970, 1978). Andrés Iniesta belonged to the modern era, dominating with a orchestrating quality; Teófilo Cubillas rose in the 1970s with a orchestrating edge. Context beyond the headline totals is important: Andrés Iniesta's landmark level arrived around 2012 with a career spanning Barcelona, Vissel Kobe, Emirates; Teófilo Cubillas's came around 1978 across Alianza Lima, FC Basel, Alianza Lima, FC Porto, Fort Lauderdale Strikers, Alianza Lima. The honest conclusion is that comparison enriches appreciation rather than crowns a single winner.
190 words · comparison angle: era
Player profiles
Spanish midfielder who scored the winning goal in the 2010 World Cup final; nine-time La Liga winner and four-time Champions League winner with Barcelona.
“A balletic dribbler with immaculate balance, body feints and an unerring habit of scoring in finals.”
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× FIFA World Cup (2010)
- 2× UEFA European Championship (2008, 2012)
- 4× UEFA Champions League (2006, 2009, 2011, 2015)
- 9× La Liga
- 6× Copa del Rey
- 3× FIFA Club World Cup
- 4× Peruvian Primera División (1967, 1969, 1970, 1978)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 2002 Barcelona debut
- 2006 Champions League winner in Paris
- 2008 Euro winner with Spain
- 2009 Treble winner under Pep Guardiola
- 2012 Named Player of the Tournament at Euro 2012
- 2015 Won his fourth Champions League in his final Barça season
- 2018 Joined Vissel Kobe in Japan
- 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
Reasonable people will disagree, but Andrés Iniesta wins out by a decisive margin on the weight of a weightier trophy cabinet.
Andrés Iniesta edges it (a decisive margin)
