Why Landon Donovan Is the Tim Tebow of World Soccer

With all the madness Tim Tebow has caused, I thought we should look at his parallel in the soccer world.

Obviously, there isn't a player that is nearly as polarizing as Tebow, and no one has quite pulled off the incredible comebacks Tebow has so far. Still, by using the things that make Tebow great, it is clear that Landon Donovan is the soccer equivalent of the quarterback.

Tebow is charismatic, plays with tremendous heart and succeeds using intangibles.

Donovan has those same characteristics.

In interviews, Tebow charms his reporters. Regardless of the question, he answers with a smile and each answer seems to be as genuine as humanly possible.

Donovan is the same way. He's an intense player; however, during interviews, he's calm, well-spoken and easy to listen to. Donovan is a likable guy, and his interviews make him seem extremely personable.

When it comes to playing, Tebow gives 100 percent every single week. Regardless of how well he's playing, he's always looking to the next play. In addition, he's trying to encourage his teammates to play as hard as him.

Similarly, Donovan has a great motor. He works up and down the sideline for the United States and for the Los Angeles Galaxy. He uses his speed to his advantage, and he doesn't stop working for 90 minutes.

He is extremely competitive, and he shows that on the field. While he might not be the most vocal player, he leads by example, encouraging his teammates to work just as hard.

Using these intangibles help Donovan succeed at a very high level. Tebow does not have the most complete skill package, but he does well with what he has.

Likewise, Donovan makes the most of what he's good at. He doesn't have the best foot skills, passing skills or scoring skills, but Donovan gets the job done.

Donovan is very fast, and his pace wears teams down. He never gives up, and his passion can result in a last-minute goal, saving an entire competition.

Just like Tebow, Donovan takes advantage of his skill set. Neither man overwhelms teams with athleticism or skill, but the passion and desire make them effective players.

It's tough to pick a player from soccer to compare to Tebow, but Donovan does fit the description. He is charismatic, plays with passion and utilizes his intangibles to be an effective player.

Accordingly, Donovan is the Tebow of world soccer.