Roberto Baggio vs Elías Figueroa: Stats Compared
Attacking Midfielder, Italy (born 1967, retired 2004) · Centre-Back, Chile (born 1946, retired 1982)
The Roberto Baggio–Elías Figueroa comparison is one of those fixtures of footballing folklore. Their textures on the ball are what fans actually remember, and they could hardly be more different. By the end Roberto Baggio had 318 goals from 602 caps and club outings; Elías Figueroa had 40 from 600. 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 Roberto Baggio collected 9 — headlined by 1× UEFA Cup (1993) — whereas Elías Figueroa amassed 5, led by 2× Uruguayan Primera División (1967, 1968). Roberto Baggio played with a orchestrating that made him unmistakable; Elías Figueroa brought a elegant that was equally his own. Club journeys add another layer, with Roberto Baggio reaching his representative peak around 1993 across Vicenza, Fiorentina, Juventus, Milan, Bologna, Inter and Elías Figueroa doing so around 1974 with Santiago Wanderers, Peñarol, Internacional, Palestino, Fort Lauderdale Strikers. Picking between them says as much about the picker as the players.
169 words · comparison angle: style
Player profiles
Roberto Baggio is an Italian former professional footballer who mainly played as a second striker, or as an attacking midfielder. He is also the former president of the technical sector of the Italian Football Federation. A highly skillful creative playmaker and set piece specialist, renowned for his curling free-kicks, dribbling skills, and goalscoring, Baggio is regarded by many as one of the greatest players of all time.
“A delicate playmaker with velvet touch, disguised passing and an instinct for decisive moments.”
A three-time South American Footballer of the Year, Figueroa is widely considered the finest defender the continent has produced, marshalling Internacional's dominant 1970s side.
“An imperious, elegant centre-back who combined aerial dominance with composed distribution well ahead of his era.”
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× UEFA Cup (1993)
- 2× Uruguayan Primera División (1967, 1968)
- 3× Campeonato Gaúcho (1973, 1974, 1975)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1985 Established himself at Vicenza
- 1989 Reached his defining peak
- 1993 Delivered a landmark season
- 2004 Retired from professional football
- 1965 Professional debut for Santiago Wanderers
- 1967 Won Uruguayan Primera División with Peñarol
- 1973 Won Campeonato Gaúcho with Internacional
- 1974 Reached the peak of his powers at Internacional
- 1982 Retired after a final spell at Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Finished his career with 40 goals in 600 appearances and 5 major honours. Finished his career with 40 goals in 600 appearances and 5 major honours.
The verdict
On balance Roberto Baggio edges the comparison. The margin is a decisive margin, decided mostly by a sharper goalscoring record.
Roberto Baggio edges it (a decisive margin)
