Paul Scholes vs Teddy Sheringham: Stats Compared
Central Midfielder, England (born 1974, retired 2013) · Striker, England (born 1966, retired 2008)
The Paul Scholes–Teddy Sheringham comparison is one of those fixtures of footballing folklore. Their textures on the ball are what fans actually remember, and they could hardly be more different. The raw numbers read 169 goals in 784 outings for Paul Scholes (0.22/game), versus 320 in 900 for Teddy Sheringham (0.36/game). Add playmaking to the mix and Paul Scholes laid on 75 goals, Teddy Sheringham 130. Trophy counts give Paul Scholes 17 and Teddy Sheringham 4, with 2× UEFA Champions League (1999, 2008) and 1× UEFA Champions League (1999) the standout honours respectively. Stylistically Paul Scholes was incisive where Teddy Sheringham was ruthless — two vocabularies of the same sport. Their routes to the top were distinct: Paul Scholes built his reputation across Manchester United, peaking around 2008, while Teddy Sheringham reached his defining level around 1999 after spells with Millwall, Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Portsmouth, West Ham United, Colchester United. Few pairings invite such entrenched disagreement, and fewer still deserve it this much.
168 words · comparison angle: style
Player profiles
Manchester United midfielder renowned for his passing range and vision; two-time Champions League winner.
“A short-sighted, single-touch midfielder whose passing range was unmatched in his generation.”
A cerebral, late-developing striker, Sheringham scored the injury-time equaliser in Manchester United's 1999 Champions League final and remains the Premier League's oldest ever goalscorer.
“An intelligent, deep-dropping forward whose clever hold-up play and vision created space for quicker strike partners.”
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× UEFA Champions League (1999, 2008)
- 11× Premier League
- 3× FA Cup (1996, 1999, 2004)
- 1× FIFA Club World Cup (2008)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (1999)
- 2× Premier League (1999, 2000)
- 1× FA Cup (1999)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1994 Manchester United debut
- 1996 First Premier League title
- 1999 Treble winner with Manchester United
- 2003 Briefly retired from England duty
- 2008 Second Champions League winner
- 2011 Came out of retirement to help Manchester United
- 2013 Retired for good at Manchester United
- 1984 Professional debut for Millwall
- 1999 Won UEFA Champions League with Manchester United
- 1999 Won FA Cup with Manchester United
- 1999 Reached the peak of his powers at Manchester United
- 2008 Retired after a final spell at Colchester United
- Finished his career with 320 goals in 900 appearances and 4 major honours. Finished his career with 320 goals in 900 appearances and 4 major honours.
The verdict
Taking goals, assists, silverware and overall profile together, Paul Scholes takes it by a decisive margin.
Paul Scholes edges it (a decisive margin)
