Landon Donovan

The all-time leading scorer and assist provider for the U.S. men's national team.

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Landon Donovan is an American former professional soccer player who played as a winger or forward. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest American players in history and as the greatest U.S. men's national team player of all time. Donovan is tied with Clint Dempsey for the most international goals scored by a male U.S. player (57) and is the all-time leader in assists for the national team. He is among the most capped players of his country (157) and is the only American player to reach the 50 goals/50 assists mark. Donovan starred in the U.S. team that reached the quarter-finals of the 2002 FIFA World Cup where he received the FIFA Best Young Player Award, becoming the first and only North American (CONCACAF) recipient. He is the highest-scoring American player in World Cup history (5), scoring in the 2002 and 2010 editions.

Quick Facts

Full name: Landon Timothy Donovan
Born: 4 March 1982
Birthplace: Ontario, California, U.S.
Position: Winger, forward
Total caps: 416
Total goals: 161

Lore & Background

Donovan made his senior debut for the United States national team in 2000. He represented his country in several youth levels, winning the Golden Ball of the 1999 FIFA U-17 World Cup. At the 2002 FIFA World Cup, he received the FIFA Best Young Player Award and was named to the FIFA World Cup All-Star Team as a reserve. Donovan won the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2002, 2005, 2007, and 2013; winning the MVP award of the 2013 edition and the Golden Boot award of the 2003, 2005, and 2013 editions. He was runner-up of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup and scored in the final. Individually, he holds the record of four U.S. Soccer Player of the Year awards, and is the only seven-time winner of the Fútbol de Primera Player of the Year award. Donovan was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2023.

Reader's Guide

2000–2002: Donovan makes his senior USMNT debut in 2000. At the 2002 FIFA World Cup, he helps the U.S. reach the quarter-finals, receives the FIFA Best Young Player Award, and is named to the FIFA World Cup All-Star Team as a reserve. He wins the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2002. 2003–2007: Donovan wins the CONCACAF Gold Cup Golden Boot in 2003 and 2005. He wins the Gold Cup again in 2005 and 2007. He is named U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year in 2003, becoming the first man to win the award three years in a row. 2008–2014: Donovan is runner-up at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup and scores in the final. He wins the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2013, earning the MVP award and the Golden Boot. He is tied for the record of four U.S. Soccer Player of the Year awards. He retires from professional soccer in 2014.