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Is Jamie Vardy better than Chelsea legend Didier Drogba?

ByGabe Henderson|
Chelsea's Ivorian striker Didier Drogba wears the crown holding a camera as he poses during the presentation of the Premier League trophy after the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Sunderland at Stamford Bridge in London on May 24, 2015. Chelsea were officially crowned the 2014-2015 Premier League champions. AFP PHOTO / ADRIAN DENNISRESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. NO USE WITH UNAUTHORIZED AUDIO, VIDEO, DATA, FIXTURE LISTS, CLUB/LEAGUE LOGOS OR LIVE SERVICES. ONLINE IN-MATCH USE LIMITED TO 45 IMAGES, NO VIDEO EMULATION. NO USE IN BETTING, GAMES OR SINGLE CLUB/LEAGUE/PLAYER PUBLICATIONS. (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Chelsea's Ivorian striker Didier Drogba wears the crown holding a camera as he poses during the presentation of the Premier League trophy after the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Sunderland at Stamford Bridge in London on May 24, 2015. Chelsea were officially crowned the 2014-2015 Premier League champions. AFP PHOTO / ADRIAN DENNISRESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. NO USE WITH UNAUTHORIZED AUDIO, VIDEO, DATA, FIXTURE LISTS, CLUB/LEAGUE LOGOS OR LIVE SERVICES. ONLINE IN-MATCH USE LIMITED TO 45 IMAGES, NO VIDEO EMULATION. NO USE IN BETTING, GAMES OR SINGLE CLUB/LEAGUE/PLAYER PUBLICATIONS. (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)
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MUNICH, GERMANY – MAY 19: Didier Drogba of Chelsea celebrates after scoring his team’s equalizing goal during UEFA Champions League Final between FC Bayern Muenchen and Chelsea at the Fussball Arena München on May 19, 2012 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
MUNICH, GERMANY – MAY 19: Didier Drogba of Chelsea celebrates after scoring his team’s equalizing goal during UEFA Champions League Final between FC Bayern Muenchen and Chelsea at the Fussball Arena München on May 19, 2012 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Before diving into this argument any further, here is the full statistical breakdown of the two players’ careers (all stats courtesy of Transfermarkt):

Premier League

  • Didier Drogba: 104 goals and 64 assists in 254 games (17,525 minutes)
  • Jamie Vardy: 133 goals and 45 assists in 270 games (21,890 minutes)

Drogba averaged a goal every 168.5 minutes, G+A every 104.3 minutes

Vardy has averaged a goal every 164.6 minutes, G+A every 123 minutes

Domestic Competitions

  • Drogba (FA Cup): 12 goals and seven assists in 29 games (2,348 minutes)
  • Vardy (FA Cup): Five goals and no assists in 20 games (1,359 minutes)

Drogba averaged a goal every 195.7 minutes, G+A every 123.6 minutes

Vardy has averaged a goal every 271.8 minutes, G+A every 271.8 minutes

  • Drogba (EFL Cup): 10 goals and three assists in 20 games (1,131 minutes)
  • Vardy (EFL Cup): Four goals and three assists in 15 games (915 minutes)

Drogba averaged a goal every 113.1 minutes, G+A every 87 minutes

Vardy has averaged a goal every 228.8 minutes, G+A every 130.7 minutes

  • Drogba (Community Shield): Two goals and one assist in four games (280 minutes)
  • Vardy (Community Shield): One goal and no assists in two games (161 minutes)

Drogba averaged a goal every 140 minutes, G+A every 93.3 minutes

Vardy has averaged a goal every 161 minutes, G+A every 161 minutes

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European Competitions

  • Drogba (Champions League): 44 goals and 15 assists in 92 games (7,292 minutes)
  • Vardy (Champions League): Two goals and one assist in nine games (772 minutes)

Drogba averaged a goal every 165.7 minutes, G+A every 123.6 minutes

Vardy averaged a goal every 386 minutes, G+A every 257.3 minutes

  • Drogba (UEFA Cup*): Six goals and no assists in eight games (635 minutes)
  • Vardy (Europa League): Two goals and no assists in eight games (372 minutes)

Drogba averaged a goal every 105.8 minutes

Vardy has averaged a goal every 186 minutes

*- UEFA Cup rebranded to Europa League in 2009

Career Overalls

  • Drogba (Career overall): 301 goals and 126 assists in 687 games (48,355 minutes)
  • Vardy (Career overall): 198 goals and 80 assists in 424 games (32,922 minutes)

Drogba averaged a goal every 160.6 minutes, G+A every 113.2 minutes

Vardy has averaged a goal every 166.3 minutes, G+A every 118.4 minutes

Statistical Enlightenment

The numbers speak for themselves, but in every common competition other than the Premier League, Drogba has a better return than Vardy. It’s worth noting that the latter’s numbers are still superb for a career as extensive as the Englishman’s, they’re just not good enough to match up against one of the best strikers to ever grace the country’s top flight.

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