Roger Milla vs Clint Dempsey: Stats Compared
Striker, Cameroon (born 1952, retired 1994) · Forward, United States (born 1983, retired 2018)
Roger Milla versus Clint Dempsey is a clash of two unmistakable footballing identities. Both built reputations on finding the back of the net, but they did it in markedly different ways. Roger Milla finishes with 150 career goals from 400 games — a 0.38 strike rate — against Clint Dempsey's 180 from 550 at 0.33 per match. Modern assist data only covers part of their careers, so creativity is hard to compare cleanly — Roger Milla is listed at 0 and Clint Dempsey at 90 where figures survive. In major honours Roger Milla collected 3 — headlined by 2× Africa Cup of Nations (1984, 1988) — whereas Clint Dempsey amassed 2, led by 1× MLS Supporters' Shield (2014). Where Roger Milla was a mercurial presence in the box, Clint Dempsey offered a explosive approach to goalscoring. Club journeys add another layer, with Roger Milla reaching his representative peak around 1990 across Union Douala, Valenciennes, Monaco, Bastia, Saint-Étienne, Montpellier, JS Kabylie and Clint Dempsey doing so around 2012 with New England Revolution, Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur, Seattle Sounders. Arguments will run and run, which is exactly why the matchup endures.
188 words · comparison angle: goalscoring
Player profiles
The exuberant hero of Cameroon's 1990 World Cup run, Milla became the oldest World Cup goalscorer at 42 and made his corner-flag dance world famous.
“A joyful, clever striker whose sharp movement and composure produced decisive goals late into his career.”
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× Africa Cup of Nations (1984, 1988)
- 1× Coupe de France (1981)
- 1× MLS Supporters' Shield (2014)
- 1× MLS Cup (2016)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1974 Professional debut for Union Douala
- 1984 Won Africa Cup of Nations with Monaco
- 1981 Won Coupe de France with Monaco
- 1990 Reached the peak of his powers at Montpellier
- 1994 Retired after a final spell at JS Kabylie
- Finished his career with 150 goals in 400 appearances and 3 major honours. Finished his career with 150 goals in 400 appearances and 3 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
Weighing production, silverware and profile, the two finish within a whisker of each other. Call it a respectful draw — greatness of this calibre resists a single winner.
Too close to call — a respectful draw
