Luís Figo vs Clint Dempsey: Stats Compared
Winger, Portugal (born 1972, retired 2009) · Forward, United States (born 1983, retired 2018)
Luís Figo and Clint Dempsey represent two answers to the same question: how do you define a great? Both built reputations on finding the back of the net, but they did it in markedly different ways. On production alone, Luís Figo posted 144 goals across 737 appearances while Clint Dempsey managed 180 across 550. Assists were not reliably tracked for much of their careers, which makes the playmaking comparison an imperfect one; where records exist, Luís Figo is credited with 0 and Clint Dempsey with 90. In major honours Luís Figo collected 12 — headlined by 1× UEFA Champions League (2002) — whereas Clint Dempsey amassed 2, led by 1× MLS Supporters' Shield (2014). Where Luís Figo was a intelligent presence in the box, Clint Dempsey offered a explosive approach to goalscoring. Club journeys add another layer, with Luís Figo reaching his representative peak around 2000 across Sporting CP, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Clint Dempsey doing so around 2012 with New England Revolution, Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur, Seattle Sounders. Picking between them says as much about the picker as the players.
182 words · comparison angle: goalscoring
Player profiles
Portuguese winger and 2000 Ballon d'Or winner; won league titles in Spain and Italy at Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter.
“A right-wing dribbler with a trademark step-over and the capacity to deliver telling crosses all day.”
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 Champions League (2002)
- 4× La Liga (1998, 1999, 2001, 2003)
- 4× Serie A (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009)
- 1× UEFA Cup Winners' Cup (1997)
- 2× Copa del Rey (1997, 1998)
- 1× MLS Supporters' Shield (2014)
- 1× MLS Cup (2016)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1989 Sporting CP debut
- 1995 Joined Barcelona
- 2000 Controversial transfer to Real Madrid
- 2000 Ballon d'Or winner
- 2002 Champions League winner with Real Madrid
- 2005 Signed for Inter Milan
- 2009 Retired at Inter Milan
- 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
The numbers give Luís Figo the lead — a decisive margin, courtesy of a weightier trophy cabinet.
Luís Figo edges it (a decisive margin)
