Wayne Rooney vs Clint Dempsey: Stats Compared
Forward, England (born 1985, retired 2021) · Forward, United States (born 1983, retired 2018)
Set Wayne Rooney alongside Clint Dempsey and the numbers start an argument of their own. Trophies, more than goals, are how most supporters ultimately remember a career. Career output puts Wayne Rooney at 364 goals in 879 games, with Clint Dempsey at 180 in 550. In chance creation, Wayne Rooney tallied 145 assists to Clint Dempsey's 90. In major honours Wayne Rooney collected 13 — headlined by 1× UEFA Champions League (2008) — whereas Clint Dempsey amassed 2, led by 1× MLS Supporters' Shield (2014). Wayne Rooney built his medal haul through years of ruthless consistency, while Clint Dempsey won his with flair-driven bursts of brilliance. Club journeys add another layer, with Wayne Rooney reaching his representative peak around 2011 across Everton, Manchester United, DC United, Derby County and Clint Dempsey doing so around 2012 with New England Revolution, Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur, Seattle Sounders. Few pairings invite such entrenched disagreement, and fewer still deserve it this much.
157 words · comparison angle: trophies
Player profiles
Manchester United's all-time leading scorer with 253 goals; England's second-highest scorer with 53 international goals.
“A powerful, aggressive forward whose relentless pressing, vision and finishing made him a complete team player.”
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
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2008)
- 5× Premier League (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013)
- 1× FA Cup (2016)
- 4× EFL Cup (2006, 2009, 2010, 2017)
- 1× UEFA Europa League (2017)
- 1× FIFA Club World Cup (2008)
- 1× MLS Supporters' Shield (2014)
- 1× MLS Cup (2016)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 2002 Everton debut aged 16
- 2004 Signed for Manchester United
- 2004 Scored a hat-trick on his Champions League debut
- 2008 Won the Champions League with Manchester United
- 2010 England's youngest scorer at a World Cup
- 2017 Became Manchester United's all-time top scorer
- 2021 Returned to Derby County as player-manager
- 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
If forced to pick, Wayne Rooney is the choice: a decisive margin, with a sharper goalscoring record the deciding factor.
Wayne Rooney edges it (a decisive margin)
