Landon Donovan vs Teddy Sheringham: Stats Compared
Forward, United States (born 1982, retired 2016) · Striker, England (born 1966, retired 2008)
When Landon Donovan and Teddy Sheringham are mentioned in the same breath, opinions rarely stay quiet. Their textures on the ball are what fans actually remember, and they could hardly be more different. Landon Donovan finishes with 190 career goals from 550 games — a 0.35 strike rate — against Teddy Sheringham's 320 from 900 at 0.36 per match. Add playmaking to the mix and Landon Donovan laid on 145 goals, Teddy Sheringham 130. Trophy counts give Landon Donovan 9 and Teddy Sheringham 4, with 6× MLS Cup (2001, 2003, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2014) and 1× UEFA Champions League (1999) the standout honours respectively. Landon Donovan played with a predatory that made him unmistakable; Teddy Sheringham brought a clinical that was equally his own. The wider career context matters too: Landon Donovan peaked around 2010 after representing San Jose Earthquakes, LA Galaxy, Everton, LA Galaxy, while Teddy Sheringham's defining level came around 1999 across Millwall, Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Portsmouth, West Ham United, Colchester United. The honest conclusion is that comparison enriches appreciation rather than crowns a single winner.
183 words · comparison angle: style
Player profiles
The USA's all-time leading scorer for club and country until his retirement, Donovan was the face of American soccer through three World Cups, capped by his dramatic stoppage-time winner against Algeria in 2010.
“A quick, clever forward whose intelligent movement and clinical finishing made him the USA's most decorated attacking player.”
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
- 6× MLS Cup (2001, 2003, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2014)
- 3× CONCACAF Gold Cup (2002, 2005, 2007)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (1999)
- 2× Premier League (1999, 2000)
- 1× FA Cup (1999)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 2001 Professional debut for San Jose Earthquakes
- 2001 Won MLS Cup with San Jose Earthquakes
- 2002 Won CONCACAF Gold Cup with San Jose Earthquakes
- 2010 Reached the peak of his powers at LA Galaxy
- 2016 Retired after a final spell at LA Galaxy
- Finished his career with 190 goals in 550 appearances and 9 major honours. Finished his career with 190 goals in 550 appearances and 9 major honours.
- 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
Reasonable people will disagree, but Landon Donovan wins out by a narrow margin on the weight of a weightier trophy cabinet.
Landon Donovan edges it (a narrow margin)
