Carlos Tevez vs Clint Dempsey: Stats Compared
Striker, Argentina (born 1984, retired 2021) · Forward, United States (born 1983, retired 2018)
Carlos Tevez versus Clint Dempsey is a clash of two unmistakable footballing identities. Reputations harden into legacies, and few careers cast longer shadows than these two. Across his senior career Carlos Tevez notched 280 goals in 700 appearances (0.40 per game), while Clint Dempsey recorded 180 in 550 (0.33 per game). Creativity tells a story too: 90 assists for Carlos Tevez against 90 for Clint Dempsey. In major honours Carlos Tevez collected 5 — headlined by 1× Premier League (2012) — whereas Clint Dempsey amassed 2, led by 1× MLS Supporters' Shield (2014). History will file Carlos Tevez under explosive greatness and Clint Dempsey under mercurial greatness — different shelves, same temple. The wider career context matters too: Carlos Tevez peaked around 2011 after representing Boca Juniors, Corinthians, West Ham United, Manchester United, Manchester City, Juventus, Boca Juniors, Shanghai Shenhua, Boca Juniors, while Clint Dempsey's defining level came around 2012 across New England Revolution, Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur, Seattle Sounders. The honest conclusion is that comparison enriches appreciation rather than crowns a single winner.
173 words · comparison angle: legacy
Player profiles
A tenacious, street-smart Argentine striker known as 'El Apache', beloved for his relentless work rate and hunger for goals.
“A combative, low-centre-of-gravity forward who pressed relentlessly and thrived on scrappy, instinctive finishes.”
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× Premier League (2012)
- 2× Serie A (2014, 2015)
- 1× Copa Libertadores (2003)
- 1× Argentine Primera División (2003)
- 1× MLS Supporters' Shield (2014)
- 1× MLS Cup (2016)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 2001 Professional debut for Boca Juniors
- 2012 Won Premier League with Manchester City
- 2003 Won Argentine Primera División with Boca Juniors
- 2011 Reached the peak of his powers at Manchester City
- 2021 Retired after a final spell at Boca Juniors
- Finished his career with 280 goals in 700 appearances and 5 major honours. Finished his career with 280 goals in 700 appearances and 5 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
Reasonable people will disagree, but Carlos Tevez wins out by a decisive margin on the weight of a sharper goalscoring record.
Carlos Tevez edges it (a decisive margin)
