Sergio Agüero vs Mario Kempes: Stats Compared
Striker, Argentina (born 1988, retired 2021) · Striker, Argentina (born 1954, retired 1996)
Sergio Agüero and Mario Kempes represent two answers to the same question: how do you define a great? Goals are the coldest, hardest metric in football, and both players stockedpile them. By the end Sergio Agüero had 427 goals from 700 caps and club outings; Mario Kempes had 350 from 600. Assists were not reliably tracked for much of their careers, which makes the playmaking comparison an imperfect one; where records exist, Sergio Agüero is credited with 110 and Mario Kempes with 0. Sergio Agüero departs the game with 10 major pieces of silverware, including 5× Premier League (2012, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2021); Mario Kempes with 3, including 1× FIFA World Cup (1978). Their finishing mirrored their personalities: Sergio Agüero mercurial, Mario Kempes predatory. Context beyond the headline totals is important: Sergio Agüero's landmark level arrived around 2014 with a career spanning Independiente, Atlético Madrid, Manchester City, Barcelona; Mario Kempes's came around 1978 across Rosario Central, Valencia CF, River Plate, Valencia CF, Hércules CF, Austria Vienna. Each, in his own way, set a standard the other is measured against.
179 words · comparison angle: goalscoring
Player profiles
A clinical, ice-cool Argentine striker who scored Manchester City's most dramatic title-winning goal and became the club's all-time top scorer.
“A low, powerful, instinctive finisher with explosive acceleration in the box and a knack for the biggest moments.”
The talismanic top scorer of the 1978 World Cup, Kempes was Argentina's long-haired talisman and one of the first South American stars to shine in Spanish football.
“A powerful, direct forward who ran at defences from deep and finished with ferocious shooting power.”
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
- 5× Premier League (2012, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2021)
- 1× UEFA Europa League (2010)
- 4× League Cup (2014, 2016, 2018, 2020)
- 1× FIFA World Cup (1978)
- 1× UEFA Cup Winners' Cup (1980)
- 1× Copa del Rey (1979)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 2003 Professional debut for Independiente
- 2012 Won Premier League with Manchester City
- 2014 Won League Cup with Manchester City
- 2014 Reached the peak of his powers at Manchester City
- 2021 Retired after a final spell at Barcelona
- Finished his career with 427 goals in 700 appearances and 10 major honours. Finished his career with 427 goals in 700 appearances and 10 major honours.
- 1973 Professional debut for Rosario Central
- 1978 Won FIFA World Cup with Valencia CF
- 1979 Won Copa del Rey with Valencia CF
- 1978 Reached the peak of his powers at Valencia CF
- 1996 Retired after a final spell at Austria Vienna
- Finished his career with 350 goals in 600 appearances and 3 major honours. Finished his career with 350 goals in 600 appearances and 3 major honours.
The verdict
Weighing production against honours, Sergio Agüero takes the verdict — a decisive margin, driven by a sharper goalscoring record.
Sergio Agüero edges it (a decisive margin)
