Gary Lineker vs Teófilo Cubillas: Stats Compared
Striker, England (born 1960, retired 1994) · Attacking Midfielder, Peru (born 1949, retired 1989)
Few debates split football fans quite like Gary Lineker versus Teófilo Cubillas. Greatness, in the end, is about who you inspired, and both left a footprint far beyond their own careers. Career output puts Gary Lineker at 330 goals in 567 games, with Teófilo Cubillas at 220 in 500. Reliable assist tallies simply do not exist for large stretches of their careers, leaving creativity to the eye rather than the spreadsheet. The honours ledger favours Gary Lineker with 9 major trophies (1× Copa del Rey (1988)) against Teófilo Cubillas's 4 (4× Peruvian Primera División (1967, 1969, 1970, 1978)). History will file Gary Lineker under mercurial greatness and Teófilo Cubillas under dictatorial greatness — different shelves, same temple. Context beyond the headline totals is important: Gary Lineker's landmark level arrived around 1986 with a career spanning Leicester City, Everton, Barcelona, Tottenham; Teófilo Cubillas's came around 1978 across Alianza Lima, FC Basel, Alianza Lima, FC Porto, Fort Lauderdale Strikers, Alianza Lima. Each, in his own way, set a standard the other is measured against.
172 words · comparison angle: legacy
Player profiles
Gary Winston Lineker (born 30 November 1960) is an English sports broadcaster, businessman, and former professional footballer who played as a striker. Regarded as one of the best players of his generation and one of England's greatest players, Lineker is the only player to have been the top goalscorer in England with three clubs: Leicester City, Everton, and Tottenham Hotspur. He also played for Barcelona in Spain, and won 80 caps for England.
“A model penalty-box striker whose timing and finishing were almost never wasted.”
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× Copa del Rey (1988)
- 4× Peruvian Primera División (1967, 1969, 1970, 1978)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1978 Established himself at Leicester City
- 1982 Reached his defining peak
- 1986 Delivered a landmark season
- 1994 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, Gary Lineker takes the verdict — a decisive margin, driven by a sharper goalscoring record.
Gary Lineker edges it (a decisive margin)
