David Silva vs Miroslav Klose: Stats Compared
Attacking Midfielder, Spain (born 1986, retired 2023) · Striker, Germany (born 1978, retired 2016)
There is something timeless about weighing David Silva against Miroslav Klose. Separated by their years at the top, each defined the football of their own generation. Across his senior career David Silva notched 124 goals in 771 appearances (0.16 per game), while Miroslav Klose recorded 318 in 705 (0.45 per game). Because assists were not systematically tracked for much of their time, that side of the comparison rests on the footage that survives. The honours ledger favours David Silva with 9 major trophies (1× FIFA World Cup (2010)) against Miroslav Klose's 7 (1× FIFA World Cup (2014)). David Silva belonged to the modern era, dominating with a orchestrating quality; Miroslav Klose rose in the modern era with a flair-driven edge. Club journeys add another layer, with David Silva reaching his representative peak around 2012 across Valencia, Manchester City, Real Sociedad and Miroslav Klose doing so around 2014 with Kaiserslautern, Werder Bremen, Bayern Munich, Lazio. Few pairings invite such entrenched disagreement, and fewer still deserve it this much.
167 words · comparison angle: era
Player profiles
David Josué Jiménez Silva (born 8 January 1986) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played mainly as a central or an attacking midfielder and occasionally as a winger or second striker. Widely regarded as one of the best players of his generation and among the greatest players in Premier League history, he was known for his balance, ball control and agility in close spaces, combined with his skill, composure, passing and flair on the ball. Silva spent seven years of his professional career with Valencia, playing from 2004 to 2010, and won the Copa del Rey in 2008.
“A pocket-sized conductor whose close control and passing gave Manchester City its early rhythm.”
All-time FIFA World Cup top scorer with 16 goals; Germany's all-time leading goalscorer with 71 international goals.
“A selfless striker and aerial specialist whose consistency made him a World Cup great.”
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× FIFA World Cup (2010)
- 1× FIFA World Cup (2014)
- 2× Bundesliga (2008, 2010)
- 3× DFB-Pokal (2005, 2008, 2010)
- 1× Coppa Italia (2013)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 2004 Established himself at Valencia
- 2008 Reached his defining peak
- 2012 Delivered a landmark season
- 2023 Retired from professional football
- 2000 Kaiserslautern debut
- 2002 World Cup debut, scored five headed goals
- 2007 Joined Bayern Munich
- 2011 Joined Lazio, won over fans with relentless work rate
- 2014 World Cup winner, became the all-time World Cup top scorer (16 goals)
- 2016 Retired at Lazio
The verdict
If forced to pick, David Silva is the choice: a clear margin, with consistency at the very highest level the deciding factor.
David Silva edges it (a clear margin)
