Mario Kempes vs Miroslav Klose: Stats Compared
Striker, Argentina (born 1954, retired 1996) · Striker, Germany (born 1978, retired 2016)
When Mario Kempes and Miroslav Klose 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. Career output puts Mario Kempes at 350 goals in 600 games, with Miroslav Klose at 318 in 705. 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. The honours ledger favours Mario Kempes with 3 major trophies (1× FIFA World Cup (1978)) against Miroslav Klose's 7 (1× FIFA World Cup (2014)). Stylistically Mario Kempes was predatory where Miroslav Klose was clinical — two vocabularies of the same sport. Context beyond the headline totals is important: Mario Kempes's landmark level arrived around 1978 with a career spanning Rosario Central, Valencia CF, River Plate, Valencia CF, Hércules CF, Austria Vienna; Miroslav Klose's came around 2014 across Kaiserslautern, Werder Bremen, Bayern Munich, Lazio. Rank them how you like — both names are carved into the sport's permanent record.
175 words · comparison angle: style
Player profiles
The talismanic top scorer of the 1978 World Cup, Kempes was Argentina's long-haired talisman and one of the first South American stars to shine in Spanish football.
“A powerful, direct forward who ran at defences from deep and finished with ferocious shooting power.”
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 (1978)
- 1× UEFA Cup Winners' Cup (1980)
- 1× Copa del Rey (1979)
- 1× FIFA World Cup (2014)
- 2× Bundesliga (2008, 2010)
- 3× DFB-Pokal (2005, 2008, 2010)
- 1× Coppa Italia (2013)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1973 Professional debut for Rosario Central
- 1978 Won FIFA World Cup with Valencia CF
- 1979 Won Copa del Rey with Valencia CF
- 1978 Reached the peak of his powers at Valencia CF
- 1996 Retired after a final spell at Austria Vienna
- Finished his career with 350 goals in 600 appearances and 3 major honours. Finished his career with 350 goals in 600 appearances and 3 major honours.
- 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
Taking goals, assists, silverware and overall profile together, Miroslav Klose takes it by a narrow margin.
Miroslav Klose edges it (a narrow margin)
