Ferenc Puskás vs Bebeto: Stats Compared
Forward, Hungary (born 1927, retired 1966) · Striker, Brazil (born 1964, retired 2005)
Ask any fan to rank Ferenc Puskás above or below Bebeto and you will get a passionate answer. They belonged to different eras, which makes any direct comparison a test of imagination as much as statistics. Ferenc Puskás finishes with 598 career goals from 621 games — a 0.96 strike rate — against Bebeto's 300 from 700 at 0.43 per match. Modern assist data only covers part of their careers, so creativity is hard to compare cleanly — Ferenc Puskás is listed at 0 and Bebeto at 60 where figures survive. The honours ledger favours Ferenc Puskás with 10 major trophies (3× European Cup (1959, 1960, 1966)) against Bebeto's 4 (1× FIFA World Cup (1994)). Across the post-war golden age and the 1990s respectively, their mercurial and flair-driven styles captured the spirit of very different footballing times. The wider career context matters too: Ferenc Puskás peaked around 1960 after representing Budapest Honvéd, Real Madrid, while Bebeto's defining level came around 1994 across Flamengo, Vasco da Gama, Deportivo La Coruña, Flamengo, Vasco da Gama, Botafogo, Al Ittihad, América-RJ. Greatness, in cases like this, is rarely a zero-sum affair.
187 words · comparison angle: era
Player profiles
Hungarian legend of the Magical Magyats and a Real Madrid galáctico; scorer of 84 goals in 85 games for Hungary.
“A barrel-chested left-footed finisher whose deadly striking powered Hungary's Golden Team.”
Famous for the 'rock the baby' goal celebration at the 1994 World Cup, Bebeto formed a lethal strike partnership with Romário in Brazil's triumphant campaign.
“A sharp, clever striker with excellent movement off the shoulder of the last defender and clinical composure in front of goal.”
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
- 3× European Cup (1959, 1960, 1966)
- 5× La Liga
- 1× Olympic Gold Medal (1952)
- 1× Central European Cup (1953)
- 1× FIFA World Cup (1994)
- 1× Copa América (1989)
- 2× Campeonato Brasileiro (1989, 1997)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1943 Budapest Honvéd debut
- 1952 Olympic champion with Hungary
- 1953 Scored twice in the 6-3 win over England at Wembley
- 1956 Fled the Hungarian Revolution
- 1958 Joined Real Madrid
- 1960 Scored four goals in the European Cup final
- 1966 Retired from playing
- 1983 Professional debut for Flamengo
- 1994 Won FIFA World Cup with Deportivo La Coruña
- 1989 Won Campeonato Brasileiro with Flamengo
- 1994 Reached the peak of his powers at Deportivo La Coruña
- 2005 Retired after a final spell at América-RJ
- Finished his career with 300 goals in 700 appearances and 4 major honours. Finished his career with 300 goals in 700 appearances and 4 major honours.
The verdict
Taking goals, assists, silverware and overall profile together, Ferenc Puskás takes it by a decisive margin.
Ferenc Puskás edges it (a decisive margin)
