Forward
Landon Donovan
5' 8"
Explore Landon Donovan’s complete USMNT and club career, major honors, goals, milestones, and legacy in American soccer history. Includes key stats, World Cup performances, and postseason achievements.
Caps: 157 | Goals: 57
Landon Donovan spent more than a decade establishing himself as one of the most accomplished players in U.S. Men’s National Team history. Lightning quick on the ball and deadly in front of goal, Donovan combined pace, vision, and technical skill to become one of the most highly regarded players ever produced by the U.S. Soccer youth system. At international level, Donovan is the USMNT’s all-time leading scorer and a six-time winner of the U.S. Soccer Male Athlete of the Year, the most in program history. He was also named U.S. Soccer Player of the Decade for the 2000s.
At club level, Donovan set both the goal-scoring and assist records in Major League Soccer, winning six MLS Cups across stints with the San Jose Earthquakes and the LA Galaxy. His success at both club and international level cemented his status as one of the defining figures of the modern American game. Donovan won election to the National Soccer Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2023. Since retiring as a player, he has worked as both a coach and a broadcaster.
Credit: Joe Toth - ISIPhotos.comUSMNT Experience
2014
Started against Korea on Feb 1. Subbed on against Mexico on Apr 2. Named to the provisional World Cup roster. Played his farewell game with the USMNT against Ecuador on Oct 10. Started and captained the USMNT.
2013
Started against Guatemala on Jul 5 and converted a penalty for the 50th goal of his international career before scoring his 51st goal. Started against Belize on Jul 9, converting a penalty for the 6th USA goal. Converted a first-half penalty against Cuba on Jul 13. Started against Costa Rica on Jul 16. Started in the Gold Cup quarterfinal against El Salvador on Jul 21 and scored the fourth goal. Started against Honduras in the semifinal on Jul 24 and scored two goals. Started the final against Panama on Jul 28. Started against Costa Rica on Sep 6. Started against Mexico on Sep 10 and scored. Started against Jamaica on October 11.
2012
Started against Scotland on May 26th and scored a hat-trick.
2011
Started against Argentina on March 26th. Captained the US against Paraguay on March 29th. Scoring in the Gold Cup final against Mexico on June 25th.
2010
Played against Turkey in the Sendoff Series. Named to the 2010 World Cup roster. Had an outstanding World Cup, scoring in three of the four games including the stoppage time winner against Algeria to advance the USA to the knockout round. Won US Soccer's Athlete of the Year award.
2009
Regular starter for the United States, had three assists in the 2-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago on April 1st. Converted a penalty against Costa Rica on June 3rd and another against Honduras three days later. Quality showing in the Confederations Cup, including a goal in the final against Brazil. Score the goal that ended up clinching qualifying for the USA against Honduras. Named the Honda Player of the Year and Player of the Decade.
2008
Set the National Team scoring record with his 35th goal, a penalty against Sweden on January 19 in Carson, Ca. Set up first goal for Oguchi Onyewu with an overhead cross during 2-2 exhibition tie against Mexico in Houston.
2007
Scored counter-attacking game-clincher against Mexico in 2-0 February exhibition win, then a stunning hat-trick against Ecuador the following month. Played in all six Gold Cup games (five starts), scoring four goals as US took trophy. Leveled Eric Wynalda as all-time US leading goal scorer. Nine goals and four assists in 12 games (11 starts) over the course of the year.
2006
Led the US in appearances by playing in 11 out of 13 games, including all three Group E matches in the 2006 World Cup. Registered three assists.
2005
One of the stars for the US during final round qualifying, he finished with three goals and four assists in eight matches. Scored a pair in the 3-0 win against Costa Rica on June 4 in Salt Lake, then added the middle goal in the 3-0 win against Panama four days later. Scored three goals in the USA's championship run in the 2005 Gold Cup, including a double off the bench on July 7 against Cuba. One of three US players named to the All-Tournament Team.
2004
Became first player to win US Soccer Male Athlete of the Year and Youth Male Athlete of the Year award (2000). Ended the year with the most minutes played (1,243) and games started (14) and tied for the lead in goals scored (5). Named man of the match four times.
2003
Became first player to win Honda U.S. Player of the Year in consecutive years. Led the team in scoring with seven goals and five assists. Tied a US record with four goals in the Gold Cup quarterfinal win over Cuba.
2002
Won Honda U.S. Player of the Year. Started all five games for the US in World Cup, scoring once each against Poland and Mexico, and led the team in shots on goal (7). Started all five games for US in winning the 2002 Gold Cup, and was named to tournament Best XI.
2001
Drew the penalty that led to the game-winning goal against Jamaica that clinched qualification for the 2002 World Cup. Earned his first of three World Cup qualifying starts in the 3-2 loss to Honduras on September 1, 2001, and also appeared as a substitute against Costa Rica on September. Started all four games at the FIFA World Youth Championship in Argentina, leading the US to the second round.
2000
Became the sixth player since 1985 to score a goal in his first appearance with the full US team when he tallied in the 2-0 win over Mexico in Los Angeles on October 25. Named US Soccer Youth Male Athlete of the Year.
2000
Olympics, scoring a goal against Kuwait. Scored two goals with the U-23s in the crucial 4-0 win over Guatemala to earn Olympics berth. Scored nine goals and one assist in 15 games with the U-20 national team, including four goals in eight internationals.
1999
Helped the U-23 team to a bronze medal at the 1999 Pan American Games, appearing in all six matches and starting four.
1999
Scored three goals in the 1999 U-17 World Championship in New Zealand and earned the Golden Ball as the tournament's most valuable player after leading the USA to a fourth-place finish.
Credit: Michael Janosz - ISIPhotos.comProfessional Experience
2018
Signed a one-year contract with Liga MX club Leon in January. Left the club following the Clausura season.
2016
Returned to the Galaxy in September and made the playoffs. Retired again at the end of the season.
2014
Won the MLS Cup in his final season with the Galaxy. Announced his retirement following the season.
2013
A regular in a Galaxy side that finished third in the Western Conference.
2012
Donovan returned to Everton for a two month loan from January to February. Won a second-consecutive MLS Cup with the Galaxy.
2011
Won MLS Cup, scoring the game-winner in the final and being named MLS Cup MVP.
2010
Loaned to Everton, where he had a strong run of form before returning to the Galaxy.
2009
Loaned to Bayern Munich in the German Bundesliga, Donovan played in six games before returning to the LA Galaxy. Part of an LA squad that lost the MLS Cup final.
2008
Scoring leader for Major League Soccer with 20 goals and a strong MVP candidate with a Galaxy team that missed the playoffs.
2007
Despite the LA Galaxy's disappointing season, he still lead the team with eight goals and 13 assists.
2006
Tallied a career-high 12 goals to go with and eight assists, despite missing eight games while with the US National Team at the World Cup in Germany ... Was named to the MLS All-Star Team for the sixth straight season.
2005
Returned to Bayer Leverkusen in January where he saw limited action (9 games). Decided to return to MLS and make it his permanent home, signing with the LA Galaxy in late March.
2004
Posted six goals and ten assists. Voted an Earthquakes All-Star for the fourth straight year.
2003
Named MVP after scoring two goals to lead Earthquakes to MLS Cup title. Led Earthquakes in scoring with 12 goals and six assists.
2002
Reached agreement with Bayer Leverkusen to extend MLS loan deal for another two years. Scored seven goals and three assists in 20 games played
2001
Registered seven goals and 10 assists for the San Jose Earthquakes, leading them to their first MLS Cup title. Scored four goals at the 2001 MLS All-Star game in San Jose. Moved from Bayer Leverkusen to San Jose in March 2001 after the two sides worked out a co-sharing agreement.
2000
Played with Leverkusen's reserves alongside fellow US National Team member John Thorrington.
1999
Signed at the age of 16 with German Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen.
Youth and College
A 1999 Parade High School All-American, Landon starred at Redlands East Valley High School, scoring 16 goals in 1998 before joining the US Under-17 team in residency camp in Bradenton, FL.
