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 Is Landon Donovan the best player the US has ever had?
21 de noviembre de 2011 08:49 AM

El equipo de Los Ángeles Galaxy y su gran estrella, el inglés David Beckham, coronaron una campaña brillante en la Major League Soccer, tras obtener el título de la MLS Cup 2011. Este logro fue gracias al gol que Landon Donovan, su otra figura, le anotó al Houston Dynamo en el minuto 72 del partido que se disputó en el Home Depot Center, en Carson, California. Foto: Reuters

Landon Donovan continues to make history for the USA.
Foto: Reuters

Debora Rubi

In the 72nd minute in the final against Houston Dynamo, Landon Donovan received a ball from Robbie Keane and did not dissapoint, finishing to the opposite post.

Although Keane was undoubtedly the best player in the match for the LA Galaxy, there was not a more adequate ending to the season. Just like he did in the World Cup with a last-minute goal to guide the US to the Round of 16, Donovan was the hero.

With the goal, Donovan became the first player in the MLS with 20 post season goals. This goes with a number of other important records for the US captain: leading scorer for the national team (46) and leader in assists (47). In MLS he is first place in postseason scoring and is in the Top Ten in playoff assists, regular season career goals, and regular season career assists.

For over a decade, Landon Donovan has been the protagonist of US Soccer. Not only for his talent, but as one of the few success stories of the US Youth Development system, playing in the U-17, U-20, and U-23 teams.

After beginning his career in Germany, the return of Landon Donovan to the US to save the MLS made him a hero once again in his home country and solidified his spot as the official representative of US Soccer.

Many believe that Donovan cannot aspire to be the best without success in Europe.

At times Donovan is not the fastest or most skilled on the field, but since his debut in 1999 he has been the most consistent, seeing soccer in the US take off as his career takes off. That is why it is important that Donovan be successful in the US and not in Europe.

With the LA Galaxy and the national team, Donovan is not is the hardest worker, he is the soul of the team. It's something that cannot be measured in numbers, but something that is seen every time Donovan scores a goal like he did in the final--with the perfect touch, at the perfect moment.

Terra