Paul Gascoigne vs Mario Kempes: Stats Compared
Attacking Midfielder, England (born 1967, retired 2004) · Striker, Argentina (born 1954, retired 1996)
Set Paul Gascoigne alongside Mario Kempes and the numbers start an argument of their own. Trophies, more than goals, are how most supporters ultimately remember a career. Paul Gascoigne finishes with 130 career goals from 620 games — a 0.21 strike rate — against Mario Kempes's 350 from 600 at 0.58 per match. Assists were not reliably tracked for much of their careers, which makes the playmaking comparison an imperfect one; where records exist, Paul Gascoigne is credited with 90 and Mario Kempes with 0. Trophy counts give Paul Gascoigne 6 and Mario Kempes 3, with 1× FA Cup (1991) and 1× FIFA World Cup (1978) the standout honours respectively. Paul Gascoigne built his medal haul through years of incisive consistency, while Mario Kempes won his with explosive bursts of brilliance. Club journeys add another layer, with Paul Gascoigne reaching his representative peak around 1990 across Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Lazio, Rangers, Middlesbrough, Everton, Burnley, Boston United and Mario Kempes doing so around 1978 with Rosario Central, Valencia CF, River Plate, Valencia CF, Hércules CF, Austria Vienna. Rank them how you like — both names are carved into the sport's permanent record.
192 words · comparison angle: trophies
Player profiles
A supremely gifted but troubled English playmaker, Gascoigne's tears and brilliance at Italia '90 made him a national icon before injuries and off-field struggles curtailed his career.
“A powerful, technically brilliant attacking midfielder who combined trickery and physical strength with moments of match-winning genius.”
The talismanic top scorer of the 1978 World Cup, Kempes was Argentina's long-haired talisman and one of the first South American stars to shine in Spanish football.
“A powerful, direct forward who ran at defences from deep and finished with ferocious shooting power.”
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× FA Cup (1991)
- 3× Scottish Premier Division (1996, 1997, 1999)
- 2× Scottish League Cup (1997, 1999)
- 1× FIFA World Cup (1978)
- 1× UEFA Cup Winners' Cup (1980)
- 1× Copa del Rey (1979)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1985 Professional debut for Newcastle United
- 1991 Won FA Cup with Tottenham Hotspur
- 1997 Won Scottish League Cup with Rangers
- 1990 Reached the peak of his powers at Tottenham Hotspur
- 2004 Retired after a final spell at Boston United
- Finished his career with 130 goals in 620 appearances and 6 major honours. Finished his career with 130 goals in 620 appearances and 6 major honours.
- 1973 Professional debut for Rosario Central
- 1978 Won FIFA World Cup with Valencia CF
- 1979 Won Copa del Rey with Valencia CF
- 1978 Reached the peak of his powers at Valencia CF
- 1996 Retired after a final spell at Austria Vienna
- Finished his career with 350 goals in 600 appearances and 3 major honours. Finished his career with 350 goals in 600 appearances and 3 major honours.
The verdict
Reasonable people will disagree, but Paul Gascoigne wins out by a narrow margin on the weight of a weightier trophy cabinet.
Paul Gascoigne edges it (a narrow margin)
