Rivelino vs Raymond Kopa: Stats Compared
Left Midfielder, Brazil (born 1946, retired 1981) · Forward, France (born 1931, retired 1967)
The Rivelino–Raymond Kopa comparison is one of those fixtures of footballing folklore. Long after the final whistle, what lingers is influence, and each man reshaped his corner of the game. Career output puts Rivelino at 238 goals in 624 games, with Raymond Kopa at 150 in 450. Reliable assist tallies simply do not exist for large stretches of their careers, leaving creativity to the eye rather than the spreadsheet. Rivelino departs the game with 8 major pieces of silverware, including 1× FIFA World Cup (1970); Raymond Kopa with 5, including 3× European Cup (1957, 1958, 1959). History will file Rivelino under orchestrating greatness and Raymond Kopa under flair-driven greatness — different shelves, same temple. Club journeys add another layer, with Rivelino reaching his representative peak around 1970 across Corinthians, Fluminense, Al-Hilal and Raymond Kopa doing so around 1958 with Angers, Reims, Real Madrid, Reims. Greatness, in cases like this, is rarely a zero-sum affair.
154 words · comparison angle: legacy
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.”
France's first football superstar and 1958 Ballon d'Or winner, Kopa won three straight European Cups alongside Di Stéfano at Real Madrid before returning to lead Reims.
“A diminutive, dazzling dribbler and creator whose vision and close control made him the conductor of every attack he played in.”
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× European Cup (1957, 1958, 1959)
- 2× Ligue 1 (1953, 1960)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1962 Established himself at Corinthians
- 1966 Reached his defining peak
- 1970 Delivered a landmark season
- 1981 Retired from professional football
- 1949 Professional debut for Angers
- 1957 Won European Cup with Real Madrid
- 1953 Won Ligue 1 with Reims
- 1958 Reached the peak of his powers at Real Madrid
- 1967 Retired after a final spell at Reims
- Finished his career with 150 goals in 450 appearances and 5 major honours. Finished his career with 150 goals in 450 appearances and 5 major honours.
The verdict
Taking goals, assists, silverware and overall profile together, Rivelino takes it by a decisive margin.
Rivelino edges it (a decisive margin)
