There is a widespread belief among fans that the United States is doing poorly when it comes to football, despite being extremely influential in other sports. Compared to European countries and neighboring South America, its talent pool is negligible.
While the U.S. national team's dusty trophy cabinet proves this vague point, it fails to take into account that many American-born soccer players have left their home countries to make their mark on the world's best teams. From Brian Robert McBride to Kobe Jones, some of the best players have made their mark on the court elsewhere during their careers, and they deserve to be in the limelight.
TO PROVE THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS A PLETHORA OF SUPERSTARS IN ITS FOOTBALL HISTORY, BRITISH MEDIA GIVEMESPORT HAS PRODUCED A LIST OF THE 10 GREATEST PLAYERS OF ALL TIME ON THE AMERICAN TEAM.
10. Thabo Ramos
Career: 1988-1996
Compared to his talent, Thabo Ramos' career was frustratingly short. The athletic attacking midfielder has been plagued by injuries throughout his playing career, with two knee injuries in seven years leaving him with little chance of longevity. But that doesn't stop him from becoming one of America's best stars.
Perhaps his most famous assist was a pass for Paul Caligiuri's goal in the 1989 USA 1-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago that helped the team to its first World Cup appearance since 1950. In addition, he scored a crucial goal in the 1998 World Cup qualifiers as the United States won 1-0 against Costa Rica. He played in three World Cups and, despite being at his peak, was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
9. Brian McBride
Career: 1993-2012
Brian McBride remains the fifth-highest scorer in Team USA history. He played a key role in the 2002 World Cup when the U.S. reached the quarter-finals that summer, setting their best record on the international stage.
8. Damarcus Beasley
Career: 1999-2019
Damachus Beasley has played for clubs in eight different countries during his 20-year playing career. At national team level, he made 126 appearances for the U.S. national team. Damachus Beasley rose to fame with PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands and Glasgow Rangers in Scotland. The winger won two league titles for each team between 2004 and 2010. During his long tenure with the U.S. team, Beasley won the America's Gold Cup a record five times.
7. Tim Howard
Career span: 1997-2021
Tim Howard earned national acclaim for his impressive performance against Belgium at the 2014 World Cup. The Everton goalkeeper at the time made 16 saves, a World Cup record for a single game.
This, of course, was the highest point of Howard's career. But after such a long career, the goalkeeper has plenty of other reasons to deserve a place in American football. He has proven his worth as a heroic leader, both on and off the pitch, and his contributions at Everton and Manchester United have shown that he has what it takes to play in the best league in the world.
6. Claudio Renner
Career: 1994-2008
Claudio Reina, whose parents are both Argentine, also showed a talent of Argentine origin in the game, and he was the most important cog in the US national team's midfield in the '90s and early '00s. His only obstacle is a poor fitness record, with injuries limiting his playing time for Rangers, Sunderland and Manchester City. Despite this, whenever he plays, Reina is a key figure in the team's impressive performances. His best season was in 1999/20000, when Rangers won the Premier League and Cup double. Reyna has played four World Cup appearances for his country, with his 2002 stellar stellar nomination in the World Cup Squad.
5. Kobe Jones
Career: 1992-2007
Kobe Jones is the most capped player of all time for the U.S. national team. At club level, Kobe Jones spent a memorable and short season at Coventry before returning to the LA Galaxy for the inaugural MLS League. It was here that the diminutive midfielder shone brightly, scoring an impressive 70 goals and winning multiple titles. He also won the 1998 U.S. Player of the Year award before retiring in 2007.
4. Brad Friedel
Career: 1992-2015
Brad Friedel has played for Blackburn Rovers, Aston Villa, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, making 450 Premier League appearances. The legendary American goalkeeper ranks eighth all-time in the Premier League for clean sheets.
3. Christian Pulisic
Career: 2016 – present
While much younger than the rest of the players on the list, the now AC Milan winger Christian Pulisic has already won a lot of accolades, proving that he is one of the best exporters the United States has ever seen. In 2019, he moved to Chelsea from Borussia Dortmund for £57.6 million, becoming the most expensive North American player of all time, winning the Champions League with Chelsea and becoming the youngest Blues player to score a hat-trick. Now he's only 25 years old, so he could one day rank higher on this list.
2. Clint Dempsey
Career: 2004-2017
Clint Dempsey became the first American player to reach a European final with Fulham in the 2010 Europa League final, and he was one of the few American exporters to shine in the Premier League, making 218 Premier League appearances, the most American player in the Premier League.
1. Landon Donovan
Career: 1999 -2019
Landon Donovan is Team USA's most legendary player of all time. It can be said that this is undisputed. He is the top scorer for the U.S. national team (tied with Clint Dempsey), the player with the most assists for the U.S. national team, and the record scorer for the U.S. national team at the World Cup.