Robin van Persie vs Dennis Bergkamp: Stats Compared
Striker, Netherlands (born 1983, retired 2019) · Second Striker, Netherlands (born 1969, retired 2006)
Line up Robin van Persie next to Dennis Bergkamp and the contrasts come quickly. Honours are what separate great players from trophy-laden legends, and both qualify. Robin van Persie finishes with 322 career goals from 694 games — a 0.46 strike rate — against Dennis Bergkamp's 290 from 795 at 0.36 per match. Assists were never formally recorded across most of their eras, so the playmaking dimension has to be judged on reputation and highlights rather than hard totals. Trophy counts give Robin van Persie 9 and Dennis Bergkamp 10, with 1× Premier League (2013) and 1× UEFA Cup (1992) the standout honours respectively. Robin van Persie built his medal haul through years of ruthless consistency, while Dennis Bergkamp won his with creative bursts of brilliance. Context beyond the headline totals is important: Robin van Persie's landmark level arrived around 2012 with a career spanning Feyenoord, Arsenal, Manchester United, Fenerbahçe; Dennis Bergkamp's came around 2002 across Ajax, Inter Milan, Arsenal. Picking between them says as much about the picker as the players.
172 words · comparison angle: trophies
Player profiles
Robin van Persie is a Dutch football coach and former professional footballer. He last served as the head coach of Eredivisie club Feyenoord. He is regarded as one of the best strikers of his generation and was known for his technique, ball control, and vision.
“A left-footed artist whose volleys, movement and aerial technique made difficult finishes routine.”
Dutch forward and Arsenal icon renowned for his technical brilliance; three-time Premier League winner with the Gunners.
“A statuesque second striker whose first touch and vision created beauty wherever he played.”
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 (2013)
- 1× UEFA Cup (1992)
- 1× UEFA Cup Winners' Cup (1987)
- 1× Eredivisie (1990)
- 3× Premier League (1998, 2002, 2004)
- 4× FA Cup (1998, 2002, 2003, 2005)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 2004 Established himself at Feyenoord
- 2008 Reached his defining peak
- 2012 Delivered a landmark season
- 2019 Retired from professional football
- 1986 Ajax debut
- 1990 Won the Eredivisie with Ajax
- 1993 Joined Inter Milan in an unhappy spell
- 1998 Scored iconic World Cup goal against Argentina
- 2002 Won the Premier League and FA Cup double
- 2004 Part of Arsenal's Invincibles season
- 2006 Final Emirates Stadium farewell
The verdict
If forced to pick, Dennis Bergkamp is the choice: a clear margin, with remarkable longevity the deciding factor.
Dennis Bergkamp edges it (a clear margin)
