20 Defining Moments of USMNT Legend Landon Donovan's Career

Landon Donovan will make his final appearance for the United States Men’s National Team on Friday when he and his teammates face Ecuador in East Hartford, Connecticut.

Donovan, 32, will wear the captain’s armband from the opening whistle at Rentschler Field and, as per Sports Illustrated, will play the opening 30 minutes of the match.

The occasion is a sort of testimonial for Donovan, who will retire from football altogether following the current Major League Soccer season.

Over the course of his career the attacker has been at the forefront of football’s growth in North America, and many of his greatest moments are also signposts for the sport in his country.

Following are 20 of them—goals and performances that have defined not only his career, but also the maturation of football in the United States.

20. FIFA U-17 World Cup Golden Ball

Phil Walter/Getty Images

Donovan put himself on the radar at the 1999 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in New Zealand, in which the United States progressed all the way to the semi-finals. He scored three goals at the tournament, including the winner over the hosts in the group stage and an important, last-minute equaliser against Poland. For his efforts he was awarded the Golden Ball.

19. 1st International Goal

Donovan retires as the USMNT’s all-time leading goalscorer with 57 tallies over 14 years. Appropriately, his first goal for his country came against archrivals Mexico in October 2000, and it was also the match-winner.

18. Goal vs. New England Revolution

Among Donovan’s numerous individual accolades is the MLS Goal of the Year award for 2009. In a match against New England Revolution, the Los Angeles Galaxy attacker scored with an arcing volley from distance that left goalkeeper Matt Reis with no chance whatsoever.

17. Brace in Los Angeles Galaxy Debut

Donovan joined Los Angeles Galaxy, with which he’d spent the majority of his career, in 2005 following the end of his association with Bayer Leverkusen. In his first match for the club he bagged a brace—one from just inside the 18-yard box; the other a header at the far post—and proceeded to score 18 goals in his debut season for the club.

16. 2013 Gold Cup Champion

A proud United States international, Donovan won his final piece of silverware with the USMNT in 2013, when he was crowned a CONCACAF Gold Cup winner for the fourth time. He scored a vital brace in the semi-final against Honduras before helping his side beat Panama in the final.

15. 2005 Gold Cup Champion

Donovan didn’t have much of a part to play in the 2002 Gold Cup, but he was front and centre as the United States won the 2005 title—finishing joint-top scorer with three goals. After finding the back of the net against both Cuba (twice) and Canada in the group stage, he successfully converted his spot-kick as the USMNT beat Panama on penalties in the final.

14. World Cup Win over Portugal

Donovan was named the Best Young Player at the 2002 World Cup, and he got the tournament off to a good start in the USMNT’s first match against Portugal when his cross deflected into the back of the net off Jorge Costa for an own goal. The United States ended up winning 3-2 in Suwon and would go on to progress into the last eight of the competition.

13. 2009 Confederations Cup Runner-Up

One of the United States’ proudest international displays came at the 2009 Confederations Cup in South Africa, where they pipped Italy and Egypt to a place in the tournament’s semi-finals. On June 24 they upset Spain in Bloemfontein, and in the Ellis Park final Donovan temporarily gave his side the lead before Luis Fabiano inspired Brazil’s comeback.

12. Becoming Top Goalscorer in USMNT History

With 57 international goals, Donovan retires as his country’s all-time leading goalscorer. It was a label owned by Eric Wynalda until January 2008, when Donovan scored his 35th goal for the United States. It came at The Home Depot Center—home of his Los Angeles Galaxy—in a 2-0 friendly win over Sweden.

11. World Cup Draw with Slovenia

Donovan’s leadership credentials were laid down for all to see at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, and in a group-stage match against Slovenia, in particular. With the United States trailing 2-0 at the break, the captain rallied the troops during the interval and then went out and scored a goal in the 48th minute. Michael Bradley’s 82nd-minute tally sealed the 2-2 draw.

10. 2001 MLS Cup Victory

Donovan, who had joined Bayer Leverkusen in 1999, never really settled in Germany and was loaned to San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer in 2001. After scoring seven goals during the regular season he cancelled out a Luis Hernandez strike for Los Angeles Galaxy in the play-off final as San Jose won MLS Cup.

9. 2011 MLS Cup Victory

In 2009, Donovan’s missed penalty in the MLS final against Real Salt Lake cost Los Angeles Galaxy the title. Two years later, he made amends in front of his home fans in Carson, California, when he scored the only goal in the 2011 final against Houston Dynamo. He and teammate David Beckham celebrated a memorable, well-earned triumph.

8. 2012 MLS Cup Victory

Los Angeles Galaxy successfully defended their MLS Cup title in 2012 against the same Houston Dynamo. In the 65th minute Donovan’s successful conversion from the penalty spot put his side 2-1 up, and less than half an hour later he was celebrating a fifth MLS championship.

7. 1st Premier League Goal for Everton

Donovan was something of a cult hero during his dual loan spells at Everton, and in January 2010 he scored his first Premier League goal for the club. It came in the 19th minute against Sunderland at Goodison Park, and the Toffees went on to prevail 2-0. Donovan was later named the English top flight’s Player of the Month.

6. 4 Goals Against Cuba

Given a chance to star at the 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup, Donovan took his chance and made his mark with an incredible, four-goal performance against Cuba in the quarter-finals. The United States, however, went out in the next round after losing to Brazil.

5. 2007 Gold Cup Champion

Donovan has always had a flair for the dramatic, and never more so than against international archrivals Mexico. In 2007 he scored the equaliser in that year’s CONCACAF Gold Cup final against El Tri, and the United States went on to win 2-1. He also found the back of the net against Canada in the semi-final round.

4. 2003 MLS Cup Victory

Donovan scored twice in the 2003 MLS championship match as his San Jose Earthquakes side toppled Chicago Fire 4-2 at The Home Depot Center. The title was the second of five he’d win in Major League Soccer.

3. Becoming Top Goalscorer in MLS History

Gutted at being omitted from USMNT manager Jurgen Klinsmann’s squad for the 2014 World Cup, Donovan took out his frustrations just a few days later when he bagged a brace against Philadelphia Union. His first goal of the encounter—his 135th in Major League Soccer—set a new, all-time mark in the North American top flight, and he tallied for a 136th time later on in the match for good measure.

2. World Cup Goal Against Algeria

The United States’ 1-0 win over Algeria in the 2010 World Cup is one of that country’s most treasured moments at international level. Donovan & Co. needed a win to ensure progression into the last 16 of the competition, and in second-half stoppage time the attacker pounced on a blocked Clint Dempsey shot and put the ball into the back of the net.

1. World Cup Goal Against Mexico

If you’re an American footballer, you no doubt want to score against archrivals Mexico. And if the goal comes at a World Cup, all the better. In 2002 Donovan’s second-half strike against El Tri put the United States 2-0 up in their round-of-16 encounter, and after losing to eventual finalists Germany in the quarter-finals he was named the Best Young Player of the competition.