Kaká vs Clint Dempsey: Stats Compared
Attacking Midfielder, Brazil (born 1982, retired 2017) · Forward, United States (born 1983, retired 2018)
Kaká and Clint Dempsey represent two answers to the same question: how do you define a great? It is in how they played, rather than what they won, that the comparison gets interesting. By the end Kaká had 237 goals from 594 caps and club outings; Clint Dempsey had 180 from 550. Assists were not reliably tracked for much of their careers, which makes the playmaking comparison an imperfect one; where records exist, Kaká is credited with 0 and Clint Dempsey with 90. In major honours Kaká collected 6 — headlined by 1× FIFA World Cup (2002) — whereas Clint Dempsey amassed 2, led by 1× MLS Supporters' Shield (2014). Stylistically Kaká was intelligent where Clint Dempsey was predatory — two vocabularies of the same sport. Their routes to the top were distinct: Kaká built his reputation across São Paulo, AC Milan, Real Madrid, Orlando City, peaking around 2007, while Clint Dempsey reached his defining level around 2012 after spells with New England Revolution, Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur, Seattle Sounders. Each, in his own way, set a standard the other is measured against.
182 words · comparison angle: style
Player profiles
Brazilian attacking midfielder and 2007 Ballon d'Or winner; Champions League winner with AC Milan in 2007.
“A tall, graceful attacking midfielder who glided past defenders and finished with precision.”
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× FIFA World Cup (2002)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2007)
- 2× FIFA Confederations Cup (2005, 2009)
- 1× Serie A (2004)
- 1× La Liga (2012)
- 1× MLS Supporters' Shield (2014)
- 1× MLS Cup (2016)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 2001 São Paulo breakthrough
- 2002 World Cup winner (limited role)
- 2003 Signed for AC Milan
- 2005 Lost the Champions League final in Istanbul
- 2007 Champions League winner and Ballon d'Or winner
- 2009 Record transfer to Real Madrid
- 2017 Retired at Orlando City
- 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
The numbers give Kaká the lead — a decisive margin, courtesy of a sharper goalscoring record.
Kaká edges it (a decisive margin)
