Landon Donovan

50 Top Soccer Player their trade today, based on a combination of current form, potential and overall ability.  Ranking  determined by a panel of contributors to ESPN's soccer.

Landon Donovan  Rank Player 50

Profile
Full name                   Landon Timothy Donovan
Birth date                   March 4, 1982
Birth place                 Ontario, California, US
Height                       5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Playing position         Forward / Midfielder
Current club              Los Angeles Galaxy
Number                    10


Biography
Landon Donovan  is an American soccer player for Los Angeles Galaxy and United States men's national soccer team. He usually plays as a withdrawn forward, and can also be used as an attacking midfielder on either wing. A member of the inaugural class of the U.S. Soccer residency program in Bradenton, Florida,

In 1999 Donovan  signed with the German side Bayer Leverkusen. After six years Donovan moved to the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2005, though he returned to the Bundesliga for a three-month spell at the start of 2009 on loan to Bayern Munich. He went on loan again from January to March 2010 with English Premier League side Everton, where he scored twice in ten appearances.

For the United States national team, Donovan is the all-time leader in scoring and assists, and has the most caps of all active players.  His goals in the 2010 World Cup made Donovan the highest scoring American player in World Cup history and the third American player to score in more than one World Cup (after Brian McBride and Clint Dempsey).

Scouting thumbnail
Pacy, creative player who flourishes in space. Lacks the one-on-one moves to beat a defender consistently, but uses the ball intelligently and excels on the counter attack.