Zico vs Carlos Tevez: Stats Compared
Attacking Midfielder, Brazil (born 1953, retired 1994) · Striker, Argentina (born 1984, retired 2021)
When Zico and Carlos Tevez are mentioned in the same breath, opinions rarely stay quiet. Style separates them as much as statistics: two players, two unmistakable signatures. By the end Zico had 525 goals from 732 caps and club outings; Carlos Tevez had 280 from 700. Assists were not reliably tracked for much of their careers, which makes the playmaking comparison an imperfect one; where records exist, Zico is credited with 0 and Carlos Tevez with 90. Zico departs the game with 9 major pieces of silverware, including 4× Campeonato Brasileiro Série A; Carlos Tevez with 5, including 1× Premier League (2012). Zico played with a orchestrating that made him unmistakable; Carlos Tevez brought a clinical that was equally his own. Context beyond the headline totals is important: Zico's landmark level arrived around 1981 with a career spanning Flamengo, Udinese, Kashima Antlers; Carlos Tevez's came around 2011 across Boca Juniors, Corinthians, West Ham United, Manchester United, Manchester City, Juventus, Boca Juniors, Shanghai Shenhua, Boca Juniors. Few pairings invite such entrenched disagreement, and fewer still deserve it this much.
178 words · comparison angle: style
Player profiles
Arthur Antunes Coimbra, better known as Zico, is a Brazilian football coach and former player who played as an attacking midfielder. A creative playmaker with excellent technical skills, vision and an eye for goal, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, and also considered one of the best free kick specialists in history. According to one estimate, Zico has scored the most direct free kicks in history, with 101 goals including friendlies, among which 62 are verified in official games.
“A free-kick artist and incisive number ten whose final pass arrived before defenders could react.”
A tenacious, street-smart Argentine striker known as 'El Apache', beloved for his relentless work rate and hunger for goals.
“A combative, low-centre-of-gravity forward who pressed relentlessly and thrived on scrappy, instinctive finishes.”
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
- 4× Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
- 1× Premier League (2012)
- 2× Serie A (2014, 2015)
- 1× Copa Libertadores (2003)
- 1× Argentine Primera División (2003)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1973 Established himself at Flamengo
- 1977 Reached his defining peak
- 1981 Delivered a landmark season
- 1994 Retired from professional football
- 2001 Professional debut for Boca Juniors
- 2012 Won Premier League with Manchester City
- 2003 Won Argentine Primera División with Boca Juniors
- 2011 Reached the peak of his powers at Manchester City
- 2021 Retired after a final spell at Boca Juniors
- Finished his career with 280 goals in 700 appearances and 5 major honours. Finished his career with 280 goals in 700 appearances and 5 major honours.
The verdict
Taking goals, assists, silverware and overall profile together, Zico takes it by a clear margin.
Zico edges it (a clear margin)
