Donovan Can Go Out on High with MLS Cup Following Turbulent Final Season

Landon Donovan's final Major League Soccer season began badly.

Stumped on 134 career goals, which had him level with all-time leading goalscorer Jeff Cunningham, he failed to find the net in each of his first seven matches for Los Angeles Galaxy.

It was a dry spell that no doubt contributed to his omission from his country's World Cup squad and, given Jurgen Klinsmann's displeasure with his 2012 sabbatical, likely served to reinforce a decision the United States manager had long wanted to make.

Donovan was understandably devastated.

"I was looking forward to playing in Brazil," he remarked in a Facebook post. "I am very disappointed with today's decision."

The following Sunday—with a point to prove—the 32-year-old delivered one of the more memorable performances of an unforgettable career.

In the second minute against Philadelphia Union, his free-kick from distance was headed into goal by teammate Leonardo. Then, shortly after the restart, he stabbed Robbie Keane's cutback past goalkeeper Zac MacMath to finally surpass Cunningham.

With his hands in the air as he let out an almighty yell, he ran a few yards in celebration before collapsing to the pitch in relief.

It was, indeed, more relief than joy—and in the 81st minute, he bagged a second goal for good measure.

With Donovan producing, Robbie Keane putting in an MVP-calibre campaign and the defense posting the stingiest record in MLS, Galaxy lost just three matches between the end of May and the start of the play-offs.

And now, with just a single victory separating the California side from another MLS Cup, the most iconic American footballer in history is poised to go out on a high.

Not surprisingly, he has been absolutely vital to the Galaxy's run to Sunday's Final, which will be played at his home ground against the New England Revolution.

Following a nervy, scoreless draw with Real Salt Lake in the first leg of the Western Conference Semifinals, Donovan scored a hat-trick and assisted on a Robbie Keane goal as Los Angeles romped to a 5-0 victory at StubHub Center in the return match.

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

A player with a renowned flair for the dramatic, the forward—who scored against Mexico in the last 16 of the 2002 World Cup and put the United States into the knockout stages of the 2010 tournament with a last-gasp goal against Algeria—then buckled down with a prudent, gutsy showing over two legs against Seattle Sounders.

He created nine goalscoring chances in the Western Conference Final, according to Squawka. And in the decisive match at CenturyLink Field, his pair of interceptions and dispossessions of Osvaldo Alonso and Marco Pappa helped the four-time Major League Soccer champions overcome an opponent that pushed them to the limit.

"Nobody's had to do it harder than we have," he commented after the match, per Goal.com's Keith Hickey. "To beat the best team during the regular season in a series like this, it's very difficult."

He added: "We're a team full of champions, and that's what separates us. We're very proud of that fact."

And Donovan, who will be playing his final professional match on Sunday, is a champion among champions.

Not only has he already won five domestic titles and four CONCACAF championships, but he has also, in a person, defined an entire generation of football in the United States.

He deserves the send-off he'll get at the 2014 MLS Cup, whether or not he lifts the trophy at the end of it.

Considering how the season began for him, the fact that he's in this position at all speaks to his natural ability, determination and will to overcome—qualities that will go some way in defining his legacy.