Diego Maradona vs Luis Suárez: Stats Compared
Forward / Playmaker, Argentina (born 1960, retired 1997) · Central Midfielder, Spain (born 1935, retired 1973)
The Diego Maradona–Luis Suárez comparison is one of those fixtures of footballing folklore. Silverware is the currency of legacy, and both players filled cabinets that few can rival. By the end Diego Maradona had 293 goals from 582 caps and club outings; Luis Suárez had 198 from 474. 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 Diego Maradona collected 6 — headlined by 1× FIFA World Cup (1986) — whereas Luis Suárez amassed 9, led by 2× European Cup (1964, 1965). One lifted trophies through mercurial reliability, the other through orchestrating moments that decided finals. Club journeys add another layer, with Diego Maradona reaching his representative peak around 1986 across Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla, Newell's Old Boys and Luis Suárez doing so around 1964 with Deportivo, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Sampdoria. Greatness, in cases like this, is rarely a zero-sum affair.
160 words · comparison angle: trophies
Player profiles
Argentine legend who almost single-handedly led Argentina to the 1986 World Cup and transformed Napoli into Italian and European contenders.
“A low-centre-of-gravity left-footed genius whose dribbling and playmaking carried teams single-handedly.”
Luis Suárez Miramontes was a Spanish professional footballer and manager. He played as a midfielder for Deportivo de La Coruña, España Industrial, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Sampdoria; he also represented the Spain national team between 1957 and 1972. Widely regarded as one of the greatest Spanish football players of all time, Suárez was noted for his elegant and fluid style of play and also regarded to be one of the greatest midfielders in the history of the sport.
“A cultured interior who saw passing lanes early and dictated matches with elegant control.”
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 (1986)
- 1× UEFA Cup (1989)
- 2× Serie A (1987, 1990)
- 1× Copa Italia (1987)
- 1× Argentine Primera División (1981)
- 2× European Cup (1964, 1965)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1976 Argentinos Juniors debut ten days before his 16th birthday
- 1981 Joined Boca Juniors and won the Argentine league
- 1982 World-record transfer to Barcelona
- 1984 Signed for Napoli for another world-record fee
- 1987 Led Napoli to their first ever Serie A title
- 1990 Captained Argentina to a second consecutive World Cup final
- 1997 Played his final professional matches at Boca Juniors
- 1956 Established himself at Deportivo
- 1960 Reached his defining peak
- 1964 Delivered a landmark season
- 1973 Retired from professional football
The verdict
The numbers give Diego Maradona the lead — a narrow margin, courtesy of a sharper goalscoring record.
Diego Maradona edges it (a narrow margin)
