Pelé vs Teddy Sheringham: Stats Compared
Forward, Brazil (born 1940, retired 1977) · Striker, England (born 1966, retired 2008)
Ask any fan to rank Pelé above or below Teddy Sheringham and you will get a passionate answer. Comparing across positions is never straightforward, and these two asked different questions of opponents. On production alone, Pelé posted 757 goals across 812 appearances while Teddy Sheringham managed 320 across 900. Modern assist data only covers part of their careers, so creativity is hard to compare cleanly — Pelé is listed at 0 and Teddy Sheringham at 130 where figures survive. Pelé departs the game with 14 major pieces of silverware, including 3× FIFA World Cup (1958, 1962, 1970); Teddy Sheringham with 4, including 1× UEFA Champions League (1999). The forward duties of Pelé leaned explosive; the striker responsibilities of Teddy Sheringham leaned predatory. The wider career context matters too: Pelé peaked around 1970 after representing Santos, New York Cosmos, 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. Picking between them says as much about the picker as the players.
174 words · comparison angle: role
Player profiles
Widely regarded as the greatest footballer of all time, Pelé is the only player to win three FIFA World Cups. FIFA recognises 757 official senior career goals (1,281 including friendlies).
“A two-footed, athletic forward who combined explosive pace, aerial ability and extraordinary vision.”
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
- 3× FIFA World Cup (1958, 1962, 1970)
- 2× Copa Libertadores (1962, 1963)
- 2× Intercontinental Cup (1962, 1963)
- 6× Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
- 1× NASL Soccer Bowl (1977)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (1999)
- 2× Premier League (1999, 2000)
- 1× FA Cup (1999)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1956 Professional debut for Santos aged 15
- 1958 Became youngest World Cup goalscorer at 17
- 1959 Top scorer in the Campeonato Brasileiro
- 1962 Won second World Cup despite injury in the final
- 1969 Scored his 1,000th career goal
- 1975 Came out of semi-retirement to join New York Cosmos
- 1977 Honoured at Pelé Day halftime show at Giants Stadium
- 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
The numbers give Pelé the lead — a decisive margin, courtesy of a sharper goalscoring record.
Pelé edges it (a decisive margin)
