Wayne Rooney vs Teófilo Cubillas: Stats Compared
Forward, England (born 1985, retired 2021) · Attacking Midfielder, Peru (born 1949, retired 1989)
Comparing Wayne Rooney with Teófilo Cubillas means weighing two very different kinds of greatness. Honours are what separate great players from trophy-laden legends, and both qualify. Wayne Rooney finishes with 364 career goals from 879 games — a 0.41 strike rate — against Teófilo Cubillas's 220 from 500 at 0.44 per match. Assists were not reliably tracked for much of their careers, which makes the playmaking comparison an imperfect one; where records exist, Wayne Rooney is credited with 145 and Teófilo Cubillas with 0. Wayne Rooney departs the game with 13 major pieces of silverware, including 1× UEFA Champions League (2008); Teófilo Cubillas with 4, including 4× Peruvian Primera División (1967, 1969, 1970, 1978). Wayne Rooney built his medal haul through years of predatory consistency, while Teófilo Cubillas won his with dictatorial bursts of brilliance. Their routes to the top were distinct: Wayne Rooney built his reputation across Everton, Manchester United, DC United, Derby County, peaking around 2011, while Teófilo Cubillas reached his defining level around 1978 after spells with Alianza Lima, FC Basel, Alianza Lima, FC Porto, Fort Lauderdale Strikers, Alianza Lima. Arguments will run and run, which is exactly why the matchup endures.
195 words · comparison angle: trophies
Player profiles
Manchester United's all-time leading scorer with 253 goals; England's second-highest scorer with 53 international goals.
“A powerful, aggressive forward whose relentless pressing, vision and finishing made him a complete team player.”
Peru's greatest ever player, Cubillas remains the only man to score five goals across two separate World Cups, inspiring Peru's celebrated 1978 side.
“A quick, two-footed attacking midfielder renowned for a ferocious long-range shot and clever dribbling in tight spaces.”
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 Champions League (2008)
- 5× Premier League (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013)
- 1× FA Cup (2016)
- 4× EFL Cup (2006, 2009, 2010, 2017)
- 1× UEFA Europa League (2017)
- 1× FIFA Club World Cup (2008)
- 4× Peruvian Primera División (1967, 1969, 1970, 1978)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 2002 Everton debut aged 16
- 2004 Signed for Manchester United
- 2004 Scored a hat-trick on his Champions League debut
- 2008 Won the Champions League with Manchester United
- 2010 England's youngest scorer at a World Cup
- 2017 Became Manchester United's all-time top scorer
- 2021 Returned to Derby County as player-manager
- 1966 Professional debut for Alianza Lima
- 1967 Won Peruvian Primera División with Alianza Lima
- 1978 Reached the peak of his powers at Alianza Lima
- 1989 Retired after a final spell at Alianza Lima
- Finished his career with 220 goals in 500 appearances and 4 major honours. Finished his career with 220 goals in 500 appearances and 4 major honours.
The verdict
On balance Wayne Rooney edges the comparison. The margin is a decisive margin, decided mostly by a sharper goalscoring record.
Wayne Rooney edges it (a decisive margin)
