David Beckham vs Sol Campbell: Stats Compared
Right Midfielder, England (born 1975, retired 2013) · Centre-Back, England (born 1974, retired 2011)
When David Beckham and Sol Campbell are mentioned in the same breath, opinions rarely stay quiet. Trophies, more than goals, are how most supporters ultimately remember a career. The raw numbers read 145 goals in 839 outings for David Beckham (0.17/game), versus 20 in 650 for Sol Campbell (0.03/game). Creativity tells a story too: 152 assists for David Beckham against 5 for Sol Campbell. Trophy counts give David Beckham 13 and Sol Campbell 5, with 1× UEFA Champions League (1999) and 2× Premier League (2002, 2004) the standout honours respectively. One lifted trophies through silky reliability, the other through rugged moments that decided finals. Club journeys add another layer, with David Beckham reaching his representative peak around 1999 across Manchester United, Real Madrid, LA Galaxy, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and Sol Campbell doing so around 2004 with Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Portsmouth, Notts County, Newcastle United, Arsenal. Picking between them says as much about the picker as the players.
158 words · comparison angle: trophies
Player profiles
English midfielder renowned for his crossing and free-kicks; Champions League winner with Manchester United in 1999 and six-time Premier League champion.
“A pinpoint crosser and dead-ball specialist whose right foot could deliver any ball over any distance.”
A commanding, athletic centre-back, Campbell was central to Arsenal's unbeaten 'Invincibles' 2003-04 title after a controversial free transfer from rivals Tottenham.
“A physically dominant, athletic centre-back whose pace and strength let him play an unusually high defensive line.”
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 (1999)
- 6× Premier League
- 2× FA Cup
- 1× La Liga (2007)
- 2× MLS Cup (2011, 2012)
- 1× Ligue 1 (2013)
- 2× Premier League (2002, 2004)
- 3× FA Cup (2001, 2003, 2008)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1992 Manchester United debut
- 1996 Scored a goal from halfway against Wimbledon
- 1999 Treble winner with Manchester United
- 2001 Last-minute free-kick against Greece sent England to the World Cup
- 2003 Joined Real Madrid
- 2007 Moved to LA Galaxy
- 2013 Won Ligue 1 with PSG and retired
- 1992 Professional debut for Tottenham Hotspur
- 2002 Won Premier League with Arsenal
- 2001 Won FA Cup with Tottenham Hotspur
- 2004 Reached the peak of his powers at Arsenal
- 2011 Retired after a final spell at Arsenal
- Finished his career with 20 goals in 650 appearances and 5 major honours. Finished his career with 20 goals in 650 appearances and 5 major honours.
The verdict
Reasonable people will disagree, but David Beckham wins out by a decisive margin on the weight of a sharper goalscoring record.
David Beckham edges it (a decisive margin)
