Landon Donovan vs Park Ji-sung: Stats Compared
Forward, United States (born 1982, retired 2016) · Midfielder, South Korea (born 1981, retired 2014)
When Landon Donovan and Park Ji-sung are mentioned in the same breath, opinions rarely stay quiet. Strip away the highlights and the medal count tells its own story for each man. Landon Donovan finishes with 190 career goals from 550 games — a 0.35 strike rate — against Park Ji-sung's 60 from 550 at 0.11 per match. In chance creation, Landon Donovan tallied 145 assists to Park Ji-sung's 60. Trophy counts give Landon Donovan 9 and Park Ji-sung 5, with 6× MLS Cup (2001, 2003, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2014) and 4× Premier League (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011) the standout honours respectively. One lifted trophies through clinical reliability, the other through orchestrating moments that decided finals. Club journeys add another layer, with Landon Donovan reaching his representative peak around 2010 across San Jose Earthquakes, LA Galaxy, Everton, LA Galaxy and Park Ji-sung doing so around 2008 with Kyoto Purple Sanga, PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United, Queens Park Rangers. Few pairings invite such entrenched disagreement, and fewer still deserve it this much.
169 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 first Asian player to win the Champions League and reach a World Cup semi-final, Park was renowned for his tireless work rate and big-game performances for Manchester United.
“A relentless, selfless box-to-box midfielder whose stamina and tactical discipline made him invaluable in the biggest matches.”
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)
- 4× Premier League (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (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.
- 2000 Professional debut for Kyoto Purple Sanga
- 2007 Won Premier League with Manchester United
- 2008 Won UEFA Champions League with Manchester United
- 2008 Reached the peak of his powers at Manchester United
- 2014 Retired after a final spell at Queens Park Rangers
- Finished his career with 60 goals in 550 appearances and 5 major honours. Finished his career with 60 goals in 550 appearances and 5 major honours.
The verdict
Taking goals, assists, silverware and overall profile together, Landon Donovan takes it by a narrow margin.
Landon Donovan edges it (a narrow margin)
