Robin van Persie vs Clint Dempsey: Stats Compared
Striker, Netherlands (born 1983, retired 2019) · Forward, United States (born 1983, retired 2018)
Ask any fan to rank Robin van Persie above or below Clint Dempsey and you will get a passionate answer. Legacy is the only real measure that outlives the numbers, and both have staked towering claims. By the end Robin van Persie had 322 goals from 694 caps and club outings; Clint Dempsey had 180 from 550. Modern assist data only covers part of their careers, so creativity is hard to compare cleanly — Robin van Persie is listed at 0 and Clint Dempsey at 90 where figures survive. In major honours Robin van Persie collected 9 — headlined by 1× Premier League (2013) — whereas Clint Dempsey amassed 2, led by 1× MLS Supporters' Shield (2014). Their legacies diverge in texture: Robin van Persie is remembered as predatory, Clint Dempsey as explosive. Their routes to the top were distinct: Robin van Persie built his reputation across Feyenoord, Arsenal, Manchester United, Fenerbahçe, peaking around 2012, while Clint Dempsey reached his defining level around 2012 after spells with New England Revolution, Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur, Seattle Sounders. Greatness, in cases like this, is rarely a zero-sum affair.
185 words · comparison angle: legacy
Player profiles
Robin van Persie is a Dutch football coach and former professional footballer. He last served as the head coach of Eredivisie club Feyenoord. He is regarded as one of the best strikers of his generation and was known for his technique, ball control, and vision.
“A left-footed artist whose volleys, movement and aerial technique made difficult finishes routine.”
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× Premier League (2013)
- 1× MLS Supporters' Shield (2014)
- 1× MLS Cup (2016)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 2004 Established himself at Feyenoord
- 2008 Reached his defining peak
- 2012 Delivered a landmark season
- 2019 Retired from professional football
- 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
Reasonable people will disagree, but Robin van Persie wins out by a decisive margin on the weight of a sharper goalscoring record.
Robin van Persie edges it (a decisive margin)
