Steven Gerrard vs Clint Dempsey: Stats Compared
Central Midfielder, England (born 1980, retired 2016) · Forward, United States (born 1983, retired 2018)
Steven Gerrard versus Clint Dempsey is a clash of two unmistakable footballing identities. Strikers are judged on goals, and on that raw currency both men delivered extraordinary returns. Steven Gerrard finishes with 212 career goals from 860 games — a 0.25 strike rate — against Clint Dempsey's 180 from 550 at 0.33 per match. Creativity tells a story too: 155 assists for Steven Gerrard against 90 for Clint Dempsey. The honours ledger favours Steven Gerrard with 8 major trophies (1× UEFA Champions League (2005)) against Clint Dempsey's 2 (1× MLS Supporters' Shield (2014)). Where Steven Gerrard was a intelligent presence in the box, Clint Dempsey offered a clinical approach to goalscoring. Club journeys add another layer, with Steven Gerrard reaching his representative peak around 2005 across Liverpool, LA Galaxy and Clint Dempsey doing so around 2012 with New England Revolution, Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur, Seattle Sounders. Rank them how you like — both names are carved into the sport's permanent record.
160 words · comparison angle: goalscoring
Player profiles
Liverpool captain who led the famous 2005 Champions League comeback in Istanbul; one-club man for most of his Premier League career.
“A dynamic box-to-box midfielder with a hammer of a right foot and a habit of dragging Liverpool back into games.”
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.”
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× UEFA Champions League (2005)
- 1× UEFA Cup (2001)
- 2× FA Cup (2001, 2006)
- 3× EFL Cup (2001, 2003, 2012)
- 1× UEFA Super Cup (2001)
- 1× MLS Supporters' Shield (2014)
- 1× MLS Cup (2016)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1998 Liverpool debut
- 2001 Won the UEFA Cup, FA Cup and League Cup treble
- 2003 Replaced Sami Hyypiä as Liverpool captain
- 2005 Lifted the Champions League in Istanbul
- 2006 Player of the match in the FA Cup final
- 2012 Captained Great Britain at the Olympics
- 2015 Left Liverpool for LA Galaxy
- 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.
The verdict
On balance Steven Gerrard edges the comparison. The margin is a decisive margin, decided mostly by a weightier trophy cabinet.
Steven Gerrard edges it (a decisive margin)
