George Best vs Kevin Keegan: Stats Compared
Winger / Forward, Northern Ireland (born 1946, retired 1984) · Forward, England (born 1951, retired 1984)
The George Best–Kevin Keegan comparison is one of those fixtures of footballing folklore. It is in how they played, rather than what they won, that the comparison gets interesting. The raw numbers read 214 goals in 616 outings for George Best (0.35/game), versus 240 in 700 for Kevin Keegan (0.34/game). Reliable assist tallies simply do not exist for large stretches of their careers, leaving creativity to the eye rather than the spreadsheet. In major honours George Best collected 5 — headlined by 1× European Cup (1968) — whereas Kevin Keegan amassed 6, led by 1× European Cup (1977). George Best played with a predatory that made him unmistakable; Kevin Keegan brought a predatory that was equally his own. Their routes to the top were distinct: George Best built his reputation across Manchester United, Fulham, others, peaking around 1968, while Kevin Keegan reached his defining level around 1978 after spells with Scunthorpe United, Liverpool, Hamburger SV, Southampton, Newcastle United. Each, in his own way, set a standard the other is measured against.
171 words · comparison angle: style
Player profiles
Northern Irish winger and Manchester United icon; Ballon d'Or winner in 1968 after helping Manchester United win their first European Cup.
“A balance-perfect winger who combined dribbling flair with an eye for goal and a rock-star aura.”
A two-time Ballon d'Or winner, Keegan was English football's first true superstar of the television era, winning the European Cup with Liverpool before dazzling in the Bundesliga.
“An energetic, tirelessly hard-running forward whose enthusiasm and clever movement made him far more effective than his modest frame suggested.”
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× European Cup (1968)
- 2× English First Division (1965, 1967)
- 2× FA Charity Shield (1965, 1967)
- 1× European Cup (1977)
- 3× English First Division (1973, 1976, 1977)
- 2× UEFA Cup (1973, 1976)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1963 Manchester United debut aged 17
- 1965 First English First Division title
- 1968 European Cup winner and Ballon d'Or winner
- 1968 Joint top scorer in the First Division
- 1972 Brief retirement then return to Manchester United
- 1974 Left Manchester United
- 1984 Made final professional appearances in the United States
- 1968 Professional debut for Scunthorpe United
- 1977 Won European Cup with Liverpool
- 1973 Won UEFA Cup with Liverpool
- 1978 Reached the peak of his powers at Hamburger SV
- 1984 Retired after a final spell at Newcastle United
- Finished his career with 240 goals in 700 appearances and 6 major honours. Finished his career with 240 goals in 700 appearances and 6 major honours.
The verdict
Taking goals, assists, silverware and overall profile together, George Best takes it by a clear margin.
George Best edges it (a clear margin)
