David Villa's career stats: How good was he in his prime?

David Villa's career stats: How good was he in his prime?

Ciku Njuguna
updated at December 13, 2023 at 4:54 PM

David Villa is a former striker who played alongside football legends such as Sergio Busquets, Lionel Messi, Andrés Iniesta, David Silva, Cesc Fàbregas and Dani Alves. Until 2020, he dazzled fans in MLS, the J1 League, A-League Men, and La Liga, winning national, regional and international awards in the process. Dig in and discover details of David Villa's career stats and achievements.

David Villa's career stats
David Villa attended the premiere of 'The Phenomenon, The Rise, Fall and Redemption of Ronaldo' at the Callao cinema on October 14, 2022, in Madrid, Spain. Photo by Carlos Alvarez.
Source: Getty Images

How many goals does David Villa have in his career? This article details the Spanish striker's professional career, bringing you all his statistics from 1999 to 2020. Scroll down for a comprehensive snapshot of David Villa's all-time stats, La Roja's top forward, who scored the second-highest number of goals in La Liga between 2005 and 2010.

David Villa's profile summary

Full name

David Villa Sánchez

Nickname

El Guaje (The Kid)

Gender

Male

Date of birth

3rd December 1981

Age

42 years as of 2023

Zodiac sign

Sagittarius

Place of birth

Tuilla, Spain

Nationality

Spanish

Ethnicity

White

Residences

Upper West Side, Manhattan Island, New York

Madrid, Spain

Height

175 centimetres (5'7")

Weight

83 kilograms (182.9 lbs)

Hair colour

Dark brown

Eye colour

Brown

Parents

Jose Manuel and Dorita Villa

Siblings

2

Relationship status

Married

Spouse

Patricia González

Children

3

Profession

Professional football player, club owner, entrepreneur

The last team played in

Vissel Kobe

Position(s)

Centre-forward, winger

Years active

1991 - 2020

Net worth

$50 million to $55 million

Social media

Instagram, Facebook, X (Twitter), LinkedIn

How old is David Villa?

Born on the 3rd of December 1981, the three-time Spanish Champion is 42 years of age as of 2023. David started his professional youth career in 1991 at UP Langreo.

How many Champions League goals does David Villa have?
Vissel Kobe's David Villa celebrates his first goal during the J1 League match against Kawasaki Frontale at Todoroki Stadium on September 28, 2019, in Kanagawa, Japan. Photo by Masashi Hara.
Source: Getty Images

What is David Villa's height and weight?

Various reports state that the former MLS star is five feet and seven inches tall (175 centimetres). While some publications note that his weight is 182.9 lbs (83 kilograms), others report that his weight is 149.9 lbs (63 kilograms).

David Villa's career stats

At the start of his career, El Guaje played for Club Deportivo Tuilla, a local team in Langreo, Asturias and later in the CD Rayo Carbayí­n, GD Bosco youth teams. Sports Brief has used official statistics from Transfermarkt, Ilcalcio and official team websites to reveal David Villa's total career goals and team statistics.

Which position did David Villa play?

David was an explosive double-footed soccer player who led the all-time goal-scoring stats for various teams. He played in the striker, centre-forward and winger positions.

How many goals has David Villa scored?
David Villa was in action during a J1 League match against Jubilo Iwata at Noevir Stadium Kobe on December 7, 2019, in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan. Photo by Asahi Shimbun.
Source: Getty Images

What teams has David Villa played for?

In 1991, Sanchez began his career with Spain's Unión Popular de Langreo. In 1999, he left his boyhood team for the Sporting Gijón Under-19 team, moving up to the reserve team in 2000 and the senior team in 2001.

In the early 2000s, he received 98 caps for the Spanish national football team. Have a look at a summary of David Villa's career stats at Barcelona and other teams.

Team

Matches played

Goal

Assists

Vissel Kobe

29

13

2

New York City FC

126

80

21

Melbourne City FC

4

2

-

Atlético de Madrid

47

15

5

FC Barcelona

120

48

24

Valencia Club de Fútbol

226

129

25

Real Zaragoza

94

39

5

Sporting Gijón

22

15

-

David Villa's career goals and assists
David Villa kicks the ball during a J.League match against Yokohama F. Marinos at Nissan Stadium on May 18, 2019, in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. Photo by Hiroki Watanabe.
Source: Getty Images

How many career goals did David Villa score?

According to Transfermarkt, El Guaje played in 667 matches, scoring 341 goals with 82 assists. He appeared in seventeen top 10 leaderboards throughout his career, particularly for his goal-scoring skills in the J1 League, La Liga, MLS and the Segunda División.

How many Champions League goals does David Villa have?

Between 1991 and 2019, the Spanish centre-back played for various leagues across the world. Here is a summary of some of his stats and goals per league tournament, according to Transfermarkt.

League tournament

Matches played

Goal

Assists

LaLiga

335

185

46

MLS

117

77

21

UEFA Champions League

47

14

6

Copa del Rey

44

18

4

J1 League

28

13

2

UEFA Cup

15

4

1

Europa League

10

6

-

Supercopa

9

3

2

MLS Cup Playoffs

7

3

-

A-League Men

4

2

-

Did David Villa win World Cup?
Vissel Kobe fans displayed a banner of David Villa during the 99th Emperor's Cup final against Kashima Antlers at the National Stadium on January 01, 2020, in Tokyo, Japan. Photo by Zhizhao Wu.
Source: Getty Images

How many goals did David Villa score for Spain?

His debut on the national team was on the 12th of February 2002. In nearly 100 caps for the Spanish national football team, including 12 World Cup appearances, he scored 59 goals with 12 assists.

David Villa's awards

David Villa's achievements in soccer began with the 2003/04 Spanish Cup and Super Cup wins while playing for Real Zaragoza and culminated with the Japanese Cup in 2019 at Kobe. Have a look at his trophies and titles over the years.

  • 2019 Japanese Cup winner
  • 2017 ESPY Best MLS Player
  • 2017, 2016, 2015 NYCFC Most Valuable Player
  • 2015/16 Major League Soccer Most Valuable Player
  • 2013/14, 2012/13, 2010/11 Spanish Champion
  • 2012 FIFA Club World Cup winner
  • 2011/12 Uefa Supercup winner
  • 2011/12, 2007/08, 2003/04 Spanish Cup winner
  • 2011/12, 2010/11, 2009/10, 2003/04 Spanish Super Cup winner
  • 2010 FIFA FIFPro World XI
  • 2010 FIFA World Cup Bronze Ball
  • 2010 World Cup winner
  • 2010/11 Champions League winner
  • 2010 USSA Male Athlete of the Year
  • 2009/10, 2005/06 Second highest goal scorer for Spain
  • 2008 European Champion
  • 2008 UEFA EURO Golden Boot
  • 2007/08 EURO top goalscorer
  • 2006 Spanish Footballer of the Year
  • 2005-2006 Best Spanish Player
  • 2005/06, 2006/07, 2008/09, 2009/10 Zarra Trophy winner
How many World Cup goals did David Villa score?
New York City FC's David Villa took a shot during a match against Columbus Crew SC at Yankee Stadium on October 23, 2016, in New York City. Photo by Michael Stewart.
Source: Getty Images

When did David Villa retire?

Toward the end of the 2018/19 season, he began his exit from football, officially ending his 29-year professional career in February 2020. As of 2023, David Villa serves as the Global Sports Director for India's Odisha FC.

Quick trivia

Keen to learn some interesting facts about David Villa? Claims exist suggesting that David's double-footed abilities were a result of a broken right femur at age four, forcing him to train using his left foot. Here are some details about El Guaje, one of Spain's highest goal-scorers of all time.

Did David Villa play in the MLS?
Valencia CF's David Villa waves to the crowd before the La Liga Santander match against FC Barcelona at Mestalla Stadium on October 29, 2022, in Valencia, Spain. Photo by David Aliaga/NurPhoto.
Source: Getty Images

1. Where did David Villa grow up?

David was born to Jose Manuel, a former Mosquitera miner and Dorita Villa in Tuilla, Asturias, in northern Spain. The centre forward is known for his love for the small town of Tuilla. Apart from frequent visits to his hometown, he held up a CD Tuilla scarf in celebration after Spain recorded a win at the 2010 World Cup final in Soccer City, South Africa.

2. Who is David Villa married to?

The Asturian native is married to Patricia González, whom he met at 17 while playing in Sporting Gijón's youth football team. As a teenager, David Villa's wife, Patricia, was a right backer for Santo Tomás de La Felguera. They have three children: Luca, Olaya and Zaida Villa González.

How many goals did David Villa scored for Barcelona?
David Villa and his wife and children pose with the 2016 Landon Donovan MLS MVP trophy at Spring Studios on December 6, 2016, in New York City. Photo by Michael Reaves.
Source: Getty Images

3. How much is David Villa's net worth?

The former La Roja top scorer is worth between $50 million and $55 million. According to various sources, he received approximately $7 million at the time of his retirement.

4. Does David Villa own a club?

In 2023, El Guaje acquired Racing Club de Futbol Benidorm from its previous owner, Jose Santiago Lopez. Additionally, on the 12th of November 2019, tabloids announced that USL Championship's Quennsboro had gotten a new owner after Villa acquired it through his company, DV7. He also owns football academies in various parts of the world, including New York, Tokyo, San Diego and Puerto Rico.

What MLS team did David Villa play for?
New York City FC's David Villa battles Omar Gonzalez during a match against Los Angeles Galaxy at the StubHub Center on August 23, 2015, in Carson, California. Photo by Shaun Clark.
Source: Getty Images

5. Where is David Villa now?

In 2021, the Spanish striker took an advisory role on one of India's soccer teams, Odisha FC. At the time of writing, he still serves on the team's Football Committee, heading its global football operations.

Additionally, he is the founder and ambassador of the DV7 Group. This sports company offers global career management for sportspeople and training for up-and-coming athletes through its academies, communications, and media services.

Final word

David Villa's career stats serve as proof of a seasoned footballer who dominated the sport for nearly three decades. His post-retirement work has placed him among the numerous dedicated veterans who positively influence the growth and development of soccer.

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Authors
Ciku Njuguna photo
Ciku Njuguna
Ciku Njuguna is a journalist with 3 year’s experience in content creation based in Kenya. She currently covers sports personnel as well as team biographies.