It's so hard to think of Landon Donovan as anything other than a playful young pup in cleats. It's that boyish face, that youthful disposition and the way he plays, like he's the fastest kid on the playground. And he knows it.
What is he, maybe 23 or 24 or something?
Wasn't it just a couple of years ago that he pulled that sports bra prank at that MLS All-Star Game, while he was still rocking the that curly burst of white hair?
And he must have been somewhere just north of teenage days during that glorious U.S. Soccer dash through World Cup 2002, right? He sure was a teen-wolf-type terror for the Mexicans, who couldn't match all that signature spring in his young legs and crumbled beneath the weight of his memorable strike and another by Brian McBride.
But the fact is, Donovan isn't so young anymore. He turned 27 earlier this year.
Now that hardly makes the man eligible for AARP discounts. But he's not a kid anymore.
In fact, you could say Donovan is right smack-dab in the sweet spot of his career. He's still young enough to punish defenses with that killer pace, that dazzling change of pace and all that brazen fearlessness, something usually reserved for the young lions. But he's old enough to know just how to use all those vast stores of heavy-weapon skill. When you get a little older, you know a few more tricks.
This much is for sure: he's old enough to already own a treasure trove of honors and awards. And the trove is growing.
Adding yet another ribbon to a spectacularly decorated coat, Donovan is set to become U.S. Soccer's all-time leader in World Cup qualifier appearances. He is currently tied with three others at 31. And what a list of "others" it is: Kasey Keller, Eddie Pope and Claudio Reyna.
Hmmm. Did I just mention the best goalkeeper, defender and midfielder this country has ever produced? It's quite possible.
At the very least, you could hardly argue that Donovan would be fighting beyond his weight class when matched with anyone among that esteemed trio.
The young-ish veteran who steps on the field Saturday at Rio Tinto Stadium, where a massive three points loom for Bob Bradley's team against El Salvador, might already be the best U.S. attacker ever produced.
Oh, sure there are Donovan bashers out there. In fact, they are legion. Why is that? Well, it remains a mystery to me. But there is indeed a faction that never wants to give Donovan his due. For whatever reason, he's a lighting rod for critics -- so many of whom conveniently ignore the man's undeniable skill and his mighty resume.
Even the way Donovan handles the detractors, generally in such an even-handed manner, says something about him. "The reality is, when you're somewhat successful at what you do, there's always a group of people who aren't going to like you," he said not too far back. "I like to think I live my life the right way, and that's what's important. But I understand that people are passionate about soccer, and that's OK."
Whether you believe Donovan is, in fact, the best attacker this country has produced, no one can argue hard facts:
The man's trophy case already includes three MLS titles, a U.S. Open Cup crown and a record four Honda U.S. Player of the Year awards. He sits atop the all-time U.S. national team leadership in goals and assists. He is the current Golden Boot holder in Major League Soccer. And, again, he has years of good soccer ahead, assuming he remains healthy, something that's never been a problem. Indeed, he's proven extremely durable.
He's also the fourth youngest player in the history of the sport to reach 100 caps for any country. The names in front of him may not be familiar -- South Korea's Cha Bum-Kun, Saudi Arabia's Sami Al-Jaber and fellow Arabian Mohammed Al-Khilaiwi -- but that shouldn't detract from the achievement. Cobi Jones is fifth on that list.
By the time it's done, Donovan won't just have broken these records, he will have obliterated them. At 37 goals scored, he's already three ahead of Eric Wynalda. Considering the World Cup qualifiers, friendlies, Gold Cup contests and (fingers crossed for everybody wearing red on Saturday at Rio Tinto) World Cup matches ahead, it's anyone's guess where the LA Galaxy striker will land in total goals when he's finally done. Maybe he gets to 45? Maybe to 50? More?
By the way, anyone who proffers the argument that too many of Donovan's goals have come from the penalty spot has never been on the field when a PK is awarded. The amount of naval gazing can be astounding, as players mill about hoping for all the world that someone doesn't ask them to take the pressure-packed shot.
Donovan has already wanted the responsibility. And he's never buckled beneath it.
He's already well ahead of the all-time field in assists in a U.S. shirt with 31. Jones is second with 22. How impressive is his total and the lead, which will surely grow? Consider that no one currently in the U.S. pool (depending on how you count DaMarcus Beasley) has more than 8. Eight!
And then there's the mark Donovan will set Saturday. He'll have 32 appearances in qualifiers, and will probably get to 33 on Wednesday when Bradley's men travel to play at Trinidad and Tobago. Seeing as Donovan is only 27, and seeing as his level of skill and production remain on the steady incline with absolutely no signs of decline, he probably has one more qualifier cycle in him. That means perhaps 14 or 16 or so in his days ahead.
So who can catch him? Carlos Bocanegra is next among the current pool in terms of qualifier appearances with 22. Considering that he's three years old than Donovan, well, it probably won't happen.
Clint Dempsey (18 qualifier caps) and Oguchi Onyewu (17) have a very outside chance, seeing as that they are roughly Donovan's age. Jozy Altidore, who is 19, already has nine appearances. So he may have the best chance. Then again, he wouldn't do so until the 2018 World Cup at the very earliest -- and tons of things could happen between then and now to derail matters. That's not to jinx the talented young striker -- that's just the way things are in a world ruled by random fate.
Donovan allows that the qualifiers aren't easy, that he's learned much from them along the way and that it is a mark he relishes.
"It means that I've continually made a contribution to this team," he told U.S. Soccer's Studio 90 this week from the team's base just outside Salt Lake City, "and that I'm a player that coaches want to call. So I am very proud of that."
Steve Davis is a freelance writer who has covered Major League Soccer since its inception. Steve writes for www.DailySoccerFix.com and can be reached at BigTexSoccer@yahoo.com. The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author's, and not necessarily those of Major League Soccer or MLSnet.com.
