It was only a matter of time before Landon Donovan took sole possession of the all-time MLS goal scoring record. But if there was ever a time to do it, it was this past weekend.
Goal number 135 vaulted Donovan over Jeff Cunningham for the outright hold. Goal number 136, very similar to the previous one, created something Donovan hasn’t had for a while: breathing room.
Only days before, Donovan had been left off the USMNT’s 23-man World Cup roster by head coach Jurgen Klinsmann. In the 32-year-old’s place there stood 18-year-old Bayern Munich product Julian Green. The USMNT’s all-time leading scorer had been replaced by a player yet to make a senior league appearance at his club and with only one cap to his name.
To summarize the week: sorry Landon, congrats Landon.
Back in 2004, American soccer fans prayed that Freddy Adu would become a global success. A decade later, those same fans are praying that Green becomes the next Adu.
I have never been a fan of Landon Donovan. And I still really am not. I remember seeing him lead the L.A. Galaxy into Toronto back in 2007 (David Beckham played on the left bench that day due to injury) and hearing fans getting on his back. A new fan of the game at the ripe age of 11, all I really knew about Donovan was that he was the hotshot. I booed. Not loudly, but I booed.
I may feel that he has taken Dwayne De Rosario’s share of the spotlight over the last decade. The Galaxy may feel so dissatisfied about his leadership that they strip him of the captaincy multiple times. Heck, internet sensation Jonathan Klinsmann may feel the need to kick Donovan while he’s down.
Then again, the more important Klinsmann felt the need to wish DaMarcus Beasley a happy birthday on Saturday, congratulating him on a fourth World Cup call in the process. Lighting fires must run in the family.
But above all, Jurgen Klinsmann should have felt the need to properly send off the greatest player in the history of soccer in the United States. He might be getting on a bit, he may be developing a beer gut (recent photos are really not doing Donovan any justice), and he may not be starting material. But he is a big reason why soccer has survived on this side of the Atlantic.
Where would the sport be without Donovan? Without his 2002 breakout, his commitment to staying and playing over leaving and sitting on a bench, his 2010 heroics? I’d be scared even thinking of an answer.
It’s a good thing that the only person left with the questions is Klinsmann. In an attempt to balance competitiveness now and preparations for what will hopefully be an easier group in 2018 he did neither very well. The scrutinization will only ramp up if the U.S. have a shot at progressing blown without Donovan’s proven track record.
At this point, the only way for Donovan to make the team is if somebody in camp made Green the Rio Ferdinand to their Emile Heskey in training. I hope Jozy Altidore packed on some extra pounds while warming Sunderland’s bench this season.
At the very least, Landon Donovan can take some consolation in the past weekend. So can Maurice Edu, another World Cup snub who I cheered for loud and proud when he was a Red.
Of course Donovan and Edu, along with many others who have stuck it to their national team coaches in recent weeks, would prefer to be in Brazil. But taking the league by storm is a show of their true professionalism.
Donovan’s career, like the history of Major League Soccer, has had ups and downs. It started well, with three MLS Cups from 2001 to 2005. He lost his spotlight in 2007, was named MVP in 2009, and got two more cups in 2011 and 2012. His sabbatical and World Cup snub have partially overshadowed his record breaking.
There’s only one way that Donovan can change that. He must pick himself up and continue to roll with the punches. He needs to make the Klinsmanns eat their words.
So here’s to Landon Donovan and this past Sunday. I hope that come December, I can refer to it as “The Appetizer”.
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