Marco van Basten vs Clint Dempsey: Stats Compared
Striker, Netherlands (born 1964, retired 1993) · Forward, United States (born 1983, retired 2018)
Marco van Basten versus Clint Dempsey is a clash of two unmistakable footballing identities. Their textures on the ball are what fans actually remember, and they could hardly be more different. Marco van Basten finishes with 283 career goals from 427 games — a 0.66 strike rate — against Clint Dempsey's 180 from 550 at 0.33 per match. Assists were not reliably tracked for much of their careers, which makes the playmaking comparison an imperfect one; where records exist, Marco van Basten is credited with 0 and Clint Dempsey with 90. The honours ledger favours Marco van Basten with 15 major trophies (1× UEFA European Championship (1988)) against Clint Dempsey's 2 (1× MLS Supporters' Shield (2014)). Stylistically Marco van Basten was ruthless where Clint Dempsey was predatory — two vocabularies of the same sport. The wider career context matters too: Marco van Basten peaked around 1989 after representing Ajax, AC Milan, while Clint Dempsey's defining level came around 2012 across New England Revolution, Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur, Seattle Sounders. Whichever side you land on, both belong in any conversation about the finest of their generation.
184 words · comparison angle: style
Player profiles
Dutch striker who won three Ballons d'Or and the 1988 European Championship before retiring at 28 due to persistent ankle injuries.
“A complete No.9 with impeccable technique, aerial strength and the most elegant volley in football.”
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× UEFA European Championship (1988)
- 2× European Cup (1989, 1990)
- 3× Eredivisie (1982, 1983, 1985)
- 3× Serie A (1988, 1992, 1993)
- 3× KNVB Cup
- 1× European Cup Winners' Cup (1987)
- 2× Intercontinental Cup (1989, 1990)
- 1× MLS Supporters' Shield (2014)
- 1× MLS Cup (2016)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1982 Ajax debut
- 1984 First Eredivisie title with Ajax
- 1986 37-goal season, top scorer in Europe
- 1987 Joined AC Milan
- 1989 Ballon d'Or winner and European Cup winner
- 1992 Won his third Ballon d'Or
- 1993 Forced to retire through ankle injury
- 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 against honours, Marco van Basten takes the verdict — a decisive margin, driven by a sharper goalscoring record.
Marco van Basten edges it (a decisive margin)
