Landon Donovan vs David James: Stats Compared
Forward, United States (born 1982, retired 2016) · Goalkeeper, England (born 1970, retired 2014)
Comparing Landon Donovan with David James means weighing two very different kinds of greatness. Trophies, more than goals, are how most supporters ultimately remember a career. Landon Donovan finishes with 190 career goals from 550 games — a 0.35 strike rate — against David James's 0 from 850 at 0.00 per match. Modern assist data only covers part of their careers, so creativity is hard to compare cleanly — Landon Donovan is listed at 145 and David James at 0 where figures survive. The honours ledger favours Landon Donovan with 9 major trophies (6× MLS Cup (2001, 2003, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2014)) against David James's 1 (1× FA Cup (2008)). Landon Donovan built his medal haul through years of ruthless consistency, while David James won his with authoritative bursts of brilliance. Club journeys add another layer, with Landon Donovan reaching his representative peak around 2010 across San Jose Earthquakes, LA Galaxy, Everton, LA Galaxy and David James doing so around 2005 with Watford, Liverpool, Aston Villa, West Ham United, Manchester City, Portsmouth, Bristol City, Bournemouth. Picking between them says as much about the picker as the players.
187 words · comparison angle: trophies
Player profiles
The USA's all-time leading scorer for club and country until his retirement, Donovan was the face of American soccer through three World Cups, capped by his dramatic stoppage-time winner against Algeria in 2010.
“A quick, clever forward whose intelligent movement and clinical finishing made him the USA's most decorated attacking player.”
The Premier League's most-capped goalkeeper at the time of his retirement, James was renowned for his shot-stopping and occasional highlight-reel errors across a two-decade top-flight career.
“An athletic, agile shot-stopper whose reflexes and command of his box made him a mainstay of English goalkeeping for two decades.”
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
- 6× MLS Cup (2001, 2003, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2014)
- 3× CONCACAF Gold Cup (2002, 2005, 2007)
- 1× FA Cup (2008)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 2001 Professional debut for San Jose Earthquakes
- 2001 Won MLS Cup with San Jose Earthquakes
- 2002 Won CONCACAF Gold Cup with San Jose Earthquakes
- 2010 Reached the peak of his powers at LA Galaxy
- 2016 Retired after a final spell at LA Galaxy
- Finished his career with 190 goals in 550 appearances and 9 major honours. Finished his career with 190 goals in 550 appearances and 9 major honours.
- 1988 Professional debut for Watford
- 2008 Won FA Cup with Portsmouth
- 2005 Reached the peak of his powers at Manchester City
- 2014 Retired after a final spell at Bournemouth
- Finished his career with 0 goals in 850 appearances and 1 major honours. Finished his career with 0 goals in 850 appearances and 1 major honours.
The verdict
Weighing production against honours, Landon Donovan takes the verdict — a decisive margin, driven by a sharper goalscoring record.
Landon Donovan edges it (a decisive margin)
