#1: Landon Donovan - Midfielder
When you talk about U.S. Men's Soccer, the conversation usually begins with Landon Donovan. Despite being left off the 2014 U.S. World Cup team, Donovan is the United States’ all-time leader in scoring and assists, and has the most caps of any active player. He is also a four-time winner of the U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year award, the only male soccer player to do it in consecutive years. Donovan is and will remain the player who helped bring U.S. men's soccer to the forefront in America.
#2: Brian McBride - Striker
Before Clint Dempsey or Landon Donovan, Brian McBride was the U.S. Soccer's top scorer in international play. McBride scored 30 goals in international play, was the first U.S. player to score in two World Cups and was the first player drafted by the MLS.
#3: Clint Dempsey - Forward
When Landon Donovan was left off the U.S. World Cup team last year, much of the scoring pressure was put on Clint Dempsey, and he answered. Tim Howard may have been the defensive muscle for the U.S., but Dempsey was definitely the scorer. Dempsey was the first American to score in three consecutive World Cups. He is known for his quickness and his ability to score at will. Which we witnessed in his opening goal against Ghana in the USA's opening round game in the World Cup last year. He pulled that same feat in the 2010 World Cup - again in the opening round, but that time against Barbados. Dempsey is only second behind Landon Donovan in scoring.
#4: Tim Howard - Goalie
Howard's career, ironically, started as him being the back-up goalie to Brad Friedel; but it wasn't long before Howard got his chance to prove himself. Howard was the goalie on the 2009 team that defeated then No. 1 Spain in the FIFA Confederation Cup. For his efforts, he won the Golden Glove award for best goalie. Howard was a huge factor in the USMNT's run in the 2014 World Cup. He had a World Cup record of 15 saves in a 2-1 loss to Belgium, and was awarded man of the match for his play.
#5: Brad Friedel - Goalie
Believed BY MANY to be the best goalie in U.S. Men's Soccer history, Friedel became known as the "human wall" because of his amazing stops, especially during the USMNT'S run in the 2002 World Cup. However, Friedel was always a bigger name in European soccer than in the States and, at age 43, he is still an active player in the Premier League with the Tottenham Hotspur.
