Clint Dempsey vs Elías Figueroa: Stats Compared
Forward, United States (born 1983, retired 2018) · Centre-Back, Chile (born 1946, retired 1982)
Comparing Clint Dempsey with Elías Figueroa means weighing two very different kinds of greatness. Reputations harden into legacies, and few careers cast longer shadows than these two. Across his senior career Clint Dempsey notched 180 goals in 550 appearances (0.33 per game), while Elías Figueroa recorded 40 in 600 (0.07 per game). Assists were not reliably tracked for much of their careers, which makes the playmaking comparison an imperfect one; where records exist, Clint Dempsey is credited with 90 and Elías Figueroa with 0. In major honours Clint Dempsey collected 2 — headlined by 1× MLS Supporters' Shield (2014) — whereas Elías Figueroa amassed 5, led by 2× Uruguayan Primera División (1967, 1968). History will file Clint Dempsey under ruthless greatness and Elías Figueroa under resolute greatness — different shelves, same temple. Club journeys add another layer, with Clint Dempsey reaching his representative peak around 2012 across New England Revolution, Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur, Seattle Sounders and Elías Figueroa doing so around 1974 with Santiago Wanderers, Peñarol, Internacional, Palestino, Fort Lauderdale Strikers. Arguments will run and run, which is exactly why the matchup endures.
183 words · comparison angle: legacy
Player profiles
The first American to score in three separate World Cups, Dempsey became the first US-born player to captain a Premier League team and remains one of the country's most decorated forwards.
“A tenacious, technically gifted forward whose late runs into the box and clever improvisation produced some of American soccer's most memorable goals.”
A three-time South American Footballer of the Year, Figueroa is widely considered the finest defender the continent has produced, marshalling Internacional's dominant 1970s side.
“An imperious, elegant centre-back who combined aerial dominance with composed distribution well ahead of his era.”
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× MLS Supporters' Shield (2014)
- 1× MLS Cup (2016)
- 2× Uruguayan Primera División (1967, 1968)
- 3× Campeonato Gaúcho (1973, 1974, 1975)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 2004 Professional debut for New England Revolution
- 2014 Won MLS Supporters' Shield with Seattle Sounders
- 2016 Won MLS Cup with Seattle Sounders
- 2012 Reached the peak of his powers at Fulham
- 2018 Retired after a final spell at Seattle Sounders
- Finished his career with 180 goals in 550 appearances and 2 major honours. Finished his career with 180 goals in 550 appearances and 2 major honours.
- 1965 Professional debut for Santiago Wanderers
- 1967 Won Uruguayan Primera División with Peñarol
- 1973 Won Campeonato Gaúcho with Internacional
- 1974 Reached the peak of his powers at Internacional
- 1982 Retired after a final spell at Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Finished his career with 40 goals in 600 appearances and 5 major honours. Finished his career with 40 goals in 600 appearances and 5 major honours.
The verdict
On balance Elías Figueroa edges the comparison. The margin is a clear margin, decided mostly by a weightier trophy cabinet.
Elías Figueroa edges it (a clear margin)
