Mesut Özil vs Miroslav Klose: Stats Compared
Attacking Midfielder, Germany (born 1988, retired 2023) · Striker, Germany (born 1978, retired 2016)
Mesut Özil and Miroslav Klose represent two answers to the same question: how do you define a great? Era matters in any comparison, and these two peaked under very different footballing conditions. The raw numbers read 114 goals in 645 outings for Mesut Özil (0.18/game), versus 318 in 705 for Miroslav Klose (0.45/game). Reliable assist tallies simply do not exist for large stretches of their careers, leaving creativity to the eye rather than the spreadsheet. In major honours Mesut Özil collected 8 — headlined by 1× FIFA World Cup (2014) — whereas Miroslav Klose amassed 7, led by 1× FIFA World Cup (2014). Across the modern era and the modern era respectively, their orchestrating and mercurial styles captured the spirit of very different footballing times. Their routes to the top were distinct: Mesut Özil built his reputation across Schalke, Werder Bremen, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Fenerbahçe, peaking around 2012, while Miroslav Klose reached his defining level around 2014 after spells with Kaiserslautern, Werder Bremen, Bayern Munich, Lazio. Greatness, in cases like this, is rarely a zero-sum affair.
176 words · comparison angle: era
Player profiles
Mesut Özil is a German former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. Known for his ball control, technical skills, creativity, passing skills, and vision, he is widely regarded as one of the best midfielders of his generation. Born and raised in Gelsenkirchen, Özil began his senior club career playing for hometown club Schalke 04, before signing with Werder Bremen in 2008, aged 19.
“A left-footed chance creator whose weight of pass and scanning made assists look effortless.”
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 (2014)
- 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 Schalke
- 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
Weighing production against honours, Mesut Özil takes the verdict — a narrow margin, driven by consistency at the very highest level.
Mesut Özil edges it (a narrow margin)
