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He’s the greatest U.S. soccer player to ever live. He has scored countless goals wearing the red white and blue. 57 to be exact, some more meaningful than others, but when the U.S. needed a goal, you knew the man wearing number 10 was going to give it to you.
Landon Donovan’s exit from the United States Men’s National Team wasn’t a good one. Manager Jurgen Klinsmann didn’t pick Donovan to be part of the 23 players that would represent the U.S. at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. But don’t let that be what you remember from Landon Donovan. Remember the 20-year-old that put the nail in the coffin against the heavily favored Portuguese in the 2002 World Cup. Remember the plethora of goals he scored against El Tri to bring the Gold Cup to the United States in 2007 and 2013. Remember him scoring in the Confederation Cup against international powers Brazil and Italy to show the U.S. could compete with the best. Remember the tying goal against Slovenia and his legendary finish against Algeria to get the U.S. out of the group stage at the 2010 World Cup.
We don’t know if there will be another player as important to U.S. Soccer as Landon Donovan. He was the first player that American soccer fans could count on. Supposed prodigies have come and gone, but Landon Donovan always produced when it mattered. He was an intricate part in growing soccer in the U.S. and he will continue to be going forward. He has been the ambassador of the game for Americans playing in England and Germany, and has been a constant piece when it comes to growing Major League Soccer here in America.
Tomorrow Landon will play his final game in for the United States. Sure, it’s an exhibition, but be sure to watch it. For American soccer fans, this is like Jeter’s last game for the Yankees. Donovan has been nothing but class since he was on the U17 team back in 1998, and ever since then all he has done is help the U.S. win soccer games. Salute LD, you’ll be missed.
Here is a tribute video made by US Soccer for Landon’s last game:
