Franck Ribéry vs Mario Kempes: Stats Compared
Winger, France (born 1983, retired 2022) · Striker, Argentina (born 1954, retired 1996)
There is something timeless about weighing Franck Ribéry against Mario Kempes. Their jobs on the pitch were not the same, yet both redefined what their role could be. By the end Franck Ribéry had 220 goals from 800 caps and club outings; Mario Kempes had 350 from 600. Assists were not reliably tracked for much of their careers, which makes the playmaking comparison an imperfect one; where records exist, Franck Ribéry is credited with 250 and Mario Kempes with 0. Franck Ribéry departs the game with 16 major pieces of silverware, including 9× Bundesliga (2008, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019); Mario Kempes with 3, including 1× FIFA World Cup (1978). As a winger Franck Ribéry bent the role to a ruthless template; as a striker, Mario Kempes redefined it with mercurial authority. Club journeys add another layer, with Franck Ribéry reaching his representative peak around 2013 across Boulogne, Metz, Galatasaray, Marseille, Bayern Munich, Fiorentina, Salernitana and Mario Kempes doing so around 1978 with Rosario Central, Valencia CF, River Plate, Valencia CF, Hércules CF, Austria Vienna. Picking between them says as much about the picker as the players.
190 words · comparison angle: role
Player profiles
One of the greatest wingers never to win the Ballon d'Or, Ribéry was the explosive creative force behind Bayern Munich's treble-winning 2013 campaign.
“An explosive, unpredictable dribbler whose acceleration and close control made him one of the most feared wide players in Europe for over a decade.”
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.”
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
- 9× Bundesliga (2008, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2013)
- 6× DFB-Pokal (2010, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019)
- 1× FIFA World Cup (1978)
- 1× UEFA Cup Winners' Cup (1980)
- 1× Copa del Rey (1979)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 2000 Professional debut for Boulogne
- 2008 Won Bundesliga with Bayern Munich
- 2010 Won DFB-Pokal with Bayern Munich
- 2013 Reached the peak of his powers at Bayern Munich
- 2022 Retired after a final spell at Salernitana
- Finished his career with 220 goals in 800 appearances and 16 major honours. Finished his career with 220 goals in 800 appearances and 16 major honours.
- 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.
The verdict
The numbers give Franck Ribéry the lead — a decisive margin, courtesy of a weightier trophy cabinet.
Franck Ribéry edges it (a decisive margin)
