Raúl vs Clint Dempsey: Stats Compared
Striker, Spain (born 1977, retired 2015) · Forward, United States (born 1983, retired 2018)
Raúl versus Clint Dempsey is a clash of two unmistakable footballing identities. Beyond the numbers, each man brought a singular aesthetic to the pitch. Career output puts Raúl at 432 goals in 1032 games, with Clint Dempsey at 180 in 550. Modern assist data only covers part of their careers, so creativity is hard to compare cleanly — Raúl is listed at 0 and Clint Dempsey at 90 where figures survive. Trophy counts give Raúl 16 and Clint Dempsey 2, with 3× UEFA Champions League (1998, 2000, 2002) and 1× MLS Supporters' Shield (2014) the standout honours respectively. Raúl played with a predatory that made him unmistakable; Clint Dempsey brought a clinical that was equally his own. Context beyond the headline totals is important: Raúl's landmark level arrived around 2002 with a career spanning Real Madrid, Schalke 04, Al Sadd, New York Cosmos; Clint Dempsey's came around 2012 across New England Revolution, Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur, Seattle Sounders. The honest conclusion is that comparison enriches appreciation rather than crowns a single winner.
171 words · comparison angle: style
Player profiles
Real Madrid legend who captained the club to three Champions League titles; held the all-time Champions League goals record before Messi and Ronaldo surpassed him.
“An intelligent, tireless forward whose movement off the ball created chances for himself and others.”
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
- 3× UEFA Champions League (1998, 2000, 2002)
- 6× La Liga
- 4× Supercopa de España
- 2× Intercontinental Cup (1998, 2002)
- 1× UEFA Super Cup (2002)
- 1× MLS Supporters' Shield (2014)
- 1× MLS Cup (2016)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1994 Real Madrid debut aged 17
- 1996 Won La Liga with Real Madrid
- 1998 Champions League winner at 20
- 2000 Champions League winner, top scorer in the tournament
- 2003 Became Real Madrid captain
- 2010 Left Real Madrid after 16 years at the club
- 2015 Retired at New York Cosmos
- 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
Taking goals, assists, silverware and overall profile together, Raúl takes it by a decisive margin.
Raúl edges it (a decisive margin)
