Miroslav Klose vs Ali Daei: Stats Compared
Striker, Germany (born 1978, retired 2016) · Striker, Iran (born 1969, retired 2007)
Miroslav Klose and Ali Daei represent two answers to the same question: how do you define a great? Comparing across positions is never straightforward, and these two asked different questions of opponents. Across his senior career Miroslav Klose notched 318 goals in 705 appearances (0.45 per game), while Ali Daei recorded 200 in 400 (0.50 per game). Because assists were not systematically tracked for much of their time, that side of the comparison rests on the footage that survives. Trophy counts give Miroslav Klose 7 and Ali Daei 4, with 1× FIFA World Cup (2014) and 3× Iranian Football League (1990, 1991, 1993) the standout honours respectively. The striker duties of Miroslav Klose leaned ruthless; the striker responsibilities of Ali Daei leaned clinical. Club journeys add another layer, with Miroslav Klose reaching his representative peak around 2014 across Kaiserslautern, Werder Bremen, Bayern Munich, Lazio and Ali Daei doing so around 1999 with Persepolis, Arminia Bielefeld, Bayern Munich, Hertha BSC, Al-Sadd, Saba Qom. Few pairings invite such entrenched disagreement, and fewer still deserve it this much.
175 words · comparison angle: role
Player profiles
All-time FIFA World Cup top scorer with 16 goals; Germany's all-time leading goalscorer with 71 international goals.
“A selfless striker and aerial specialist whose consistency made him a World Cup great.”
The all-time leading international goalscorer for over a decade with 109 goals, Daei was Asia's most feared centre-forward through the 1990s and 2000s.
“A physically imposing, clinical target man dominant in the air and lethal in front of goal.”
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 (2014)
- 2× Bundesliga (2008, 2010)
- 3× DFB-Pokal (2005, 2008, 2010)
- 1× Coppa Italia (2013)
- 3× Iranian Football League (1990, 1991, 1993)
- 1× Hazfi Cup (1993)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 2000 Kaiserslautern debut
- 2002 World Cup debut, scored five headed goals
- 2007 Joined Bayern Munich
- 2011 Joined Lazio, won over fans with relentless work rate
- 2014 World Cup winner, became the all-time World Cup top scorer (16 goals)
- 2016 Retired at Lazio
- 1988 Professional debut for Persepolis
- 1990 Won Iranian Football League with Persepolis
- 1993 Won Hazfi Cup with Persepolis
- 1999 Reached the peak of his powers at Bayern Munich
- 2007 Retired after a final spell at Saba Qom
- Finished his career with 200 goals in 400 appearances and 4 major honours. Finished his career with 200 goals in 400 appearances and 4 major honours.
The verdict
Taking goals, assists, silverware and overall profile together, Miroslav Klose takes it by a decisive margin.
Miroslav Klose edges it (a decisive margin)
