Jairzinho vs Clint Dempsey: Stats Compared
Right Winger, Brazil (born 1944, retired 1982) · Forward, United States (born 1983, retired 2018)
Jairzinho versus Clint Dempsey is a clash of two unmistakable footballing identities. Style separates them as much as statistics: two players, two unmistakable signatures. Career output puts Jairzinho at 350 goals in 650 games, with Clint Dempsey at 180 in 550. Creativity tells a story too: 60 assists for Jairzinho against 90 for Clint Dempsey. Trophy counts give Jairzinho 5 and Clint Dempsey 2, with 2× FIFA World Cup (1962, 1970) and 1× MLS Supporters' Shield (2014) the standout honours respectively. Jairzinho played with a flair-driven that made him unmistakable; Clint Dempsey brought a clinical that was equally his own. The wider career context matters too: Jairzinho peaked around 1970 after representing Botafogo, Marseille, Cruzeiro, Portuguesa, Noroeste, while Clint Dempsey's defining level came around 2012 across New England Revolution, Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur, Seattle Sounders. Any final judgment should account for the different tactical jobs, eras and competitive environments behind the totals, not simply reward the largest raw number. Rank them how you like — both names are carved into the sport's permanent record.
173 words · comparison angle: style
Player profiles
The only man to score in every match of a World Cup-winning campaign (1970), Jairzinho was the explosive right winger of Brazil's most celebrated side.
“A powerful, direct winger who combined electric pace with a thunderous shot, terrorising full-backs down the right flank.”
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
- 2× FIFA World Cup (1962, 1970)
- 3× Campeonato Carioca (1962, 1967, 1968)
- 1× MLS Supporters' Shield (2014)
- 1× MLS Cup (2016)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1959 Professional debut for Botafogo
- 1962 Won FIFA World Cup with Botafogo
- 1962 Won Campeonato Carioca with Botafogo
- 1970 Reached the peak of his powers at Botafogo
- 1982 Retired after a final spell at Noroeste
- Finished his career with 350 goals in 650 appearances and 5 major honours. Finished his career with 350 goals in 650 appearances and 5 major honours.
- 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
Taking goals, assists, silverware and overall profile together, Jairzinho takes it by a decisive margin.
Jairzinho edges it (a decisive margin)
