In another instance of the USMNT getting a hair older, Landon Donovan turned 29 today. Not that that means he’s old but it does mean he’s no longer the young up and coming player we saw in the 2002 World Cup. Landon has been one of the best players I have ever seen put on a USMNT jersey, and is for many people up towards the top of the list of best American soccer players. Donovan may not have been the best American player during his career (although many would say he has, I would still argue Dempsey, and Howard might be a click or two better, but that’s an argument for another day) he has been the face of US Soccer for years. Donovan was the only current USMNT player to take part in the most recent failed World Cup bid. Donovan is the face of the national team for many American soccer fans and probably even more so for those who don’t closely follow the team. Landon Donovan may not have been the first American soccer player to be a house-hold name, but I would argue that as long as I’ve been watching soccer he has been far and away the most widely recognizable face of the national team. To remember just how far Donovan is away from that 2002 tournament, here are his 45 career USMNT goals (only for those interested in 10 minutes of Landon Donovan-centric USMNT glory). Of course I also had to throw in a little extra video of one of his most recent goals, seeing as the video literally never ceases to bring a tear to my eye I thought it was necessary for any celebration of Landon Donovan.
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