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Carlos Valderrama vs Diego Maradona

Side by side, no filler: the honours, records, earnings and stats that decide this one.

Carlos ValderramaCarlos Valderrama Diego MaradonaDiego Maradona
FootballSportFootball
ColombiaNationalityArgentina
2 September 1961Born30 October 1960
1.75 m / 5 ft 9 inHeight1.65 m / 5 ft 5 in
$10MNet worth-
4Major honours4
2Records2

Career Numbers

816Total appearances-
74Total goals-
111International caps91
11International goals34
114MLS assists-
-Total club appearances589
-Total club goals311

Honours Side by Side

Carlos Valderrama (4)

  • South American Footballer of the Year
  • FIFA 100
  • MLS All-Time Best XI
  • Copa América

Diego Maradona (4)

  • FIFA World Cup
  • FIFA World Cup
  • Copa América
  • FIFA Player of the Century

The Case for Each

Carlos Valderrama brings the heavier trophy cabinet: 4 documented honours against 4 for Diego Maradona. Silverware is not the whole story, but it is the first line of any football argument.

On records, Carlos Valderrama holds 2 documented marks to 2 for Diego Maradona. The headline entry: Most assists in a single MLS season. Records show peaks; honours show sustained dominance. The two lists rarely agree on a winner, which is exactly why this debate refuses to die.

Put the raw numbers side by side and the picture sharpens. Carlos Valderrama shows 111 in international caps; Diego Maradona answers with 91. Context matters: different leagues, different eras and different roles all bend a stat line, so treat the gap as a conversation starter rather than a verdict.

Put the raw numbers side by side and the picture sharpens. Carlos Valderrama shows 11 in international goals; Diego Maradona answers with 34. Context matters: different leagues, different eras and different roles all bend a stat line, so treat the gap as a conversation starter rather than a verdict.

Football is the world's game, played and watched by billions across every continent. Its biggest stars carry entire nations on their shoulders, from World Cup finals to Champions League nights. No sport produces global icons at the same rate, and no debate burns hotter than who stands above the rest. That backdrop is what makes a matchup like this one resonate beyond the box scores.

Diego Maradona is the senior figure by roughly 1 year, which frames the comparison: one career is closer to its final shape, the other still has chapters to write.

For the complete record, see Carlos Valderrama and Diego Maradona, both updated daily with stats, honours and news on AthleteWiki.

Full profiles: Carlos Valderrama · Diego Maradona