Mario Kempes vs Paul Ince: Stats Compared
Striker, Argentina (born 1954, retired 1996) · Central Midfielder, England (born 1967, retired 2006)
Ask any fan to rank Mario Kempes above or below Paul Ince and you will get a passionate answer. They occupied different roles, which makes a like-for-like verdict a careful exercise. On production alone, Mario Kempes posted 350 goals across 600 appearances while Paul Ince managed 90 across 650. Assists were not reliably tracked for much of their careers, which makes the playmaking comparison an imperfect one; where records exist, Mario Kempes is credited with 0 and Paul Ince with 60. The honours ledger favours Mario Kempes with 3 major trophies (1× FIFA World Cup (1978)) against Paul Ince's 4 (2× Premier League (1993, 1994)). The striker duties of Mario Kempes leaned explosive; the central midfielder responsibilities of Paul Ince leaned creative. Their routes to the top were distinct: Mario Kempes built his reputation across Rosario Central, Valencia CF, River Plate, Valencia CF, Hércules CF, Austria Vienna, peaking around 1978, while Paul Ince reached his defining level around 1994 after spells with West Ham United, Manchester United, Inter Milan, Liverpool, Middlesbrough, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Swindon Town. Whichever side you land on, both belong in any conversation about the finest of their generation.
191 words · comparison angle: role
Player profiles
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.”
The first Black player to captain England, Ince was a combative, driving midfielder at the heart of Manchester United's early Premier League dominance.
“An aggressive, all-action midfielder whose tackling and late runs into the box made him a formidable box-to-box presence.”
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 (1978)
- 1× UEFA Cup Winners' Cup (1980)
- 1× Copa del Rey (1979)
- 2× Premier League (1993, 1994)
- 2× FA Cup (1990, 1994)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 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.
- 1986 Professional debut for West Ham United
- 1993 Won Premier League with Manchester United
- 1990 Won FA Cup with Manchester United
- 1994 Reached the peak of his powers at Manchester United
- 2006 Retired after a final spell at Swindon Town
- Finished his career with 90 goals in 650 appearances and 4 major honours. Finished his career with 90 goals in 650 appearances and 4 major honours.
The verdict
If forced to pick, Mario Kempes is the choice: a narrow margin, with a sharper goalscoring record the deciding factor.
Mario Kempes edges it (a narrow margin)
