Rivelino vs Just Fontaine: Stats Compared
Left Midfielder, Brazil (born 1946, retired 1981) · Striker, France (born 1933, retired 1962)
Comparing Rivelino with Just Fontaine means weighing two very different kinds of greatness. Where pure finishing is concerned, this is a shootout between two of the most feared marksmen of their time. Across his senior career Rivelino notched 238 goals in 624 appearances (0.38 per game), while Just Fontaine recorded 200 in 300 (0.67 per game). Assists were never formally recorded across most of their eras, so the playmaking dimension has to be judged on reputation and highlights rather than hard totals. Rivelino departs the game with 8 major pieces of silverware, including 1× FIFA World Cup (1970); Just Fontaine with 5, including 3× Ligue 1 (1955, 1958, 1960). Their finishing mirrored their personalities: Rivelino silky, Just Fontaine explosive. Their routes to the top were distinct: Rivelino built his reputation across Corinthians, Fluminense, Al-Hilal, peaking around 1970, while Just Fontaine reached his defining level around 1958 after spells with USM Casablanca, Nice, Reims. Arguments will run and run, which is exactly why the matchup endures.
165 words · comparison angle: goalscoring
Player profiles
Roberto Rivellino (born 1 January 1946), known mononymously as Rivellino, is a Brazilian football pundit and former player. He was a key member of Brazil’s 1970 FIFA World Cup-winning team and played as an attacking midfielder. He was renowned for his moustache, powerful long-range shooting, accurate passing, close control, dribbling and bending free kicks.
“A left-footed conductor famous for the elastico, fierce shooting and daring switches of play.”
Fontaine's record of thirteen goals at the 1958 World Cup remains the highest single-tournament tally in history, a feat many consider unbreakable.
“An explosively quick, clinical striker whose finishing instincts produced goals in bunches over a tragically short career cut down by injury.”
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 (1970)
- 3× Ligue 1 (1955, 1958, 1960)
- 2× Coupe de France (1958, 1961)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1962 Established himself at Corinthians
- 1966 Reached his defining peak
- 1970 Delivered a landmark season
- 1981 Retired from professional football
- 1950 Professional debut for USM Casablanca
- 1955 Won Ligue 1 with Nice
- 1958 Won Coupe de France with Reims
- 1958 Reached the peak of his powers at Reims
- 1962 Retired after a final spell at Reims
- Finished his career with 200 goals in 300 appearances and 5 major honours. Finished his career with 200 goals in 300 appearances and 5 major honours.
The verdict
On balance Rivelino edges the comparison. The margin is a clear margin, decided mostly by a weightier trophy cabinet.
Rivelino edges it (a clear margin)
