Doug McIntyre
Soccer journalist
The Summer time of Stars is in full swing on FOX with the European Championship in Germany and the Copa América hosted by the US. Each tournaments characteristic the world's greatest footballers, however what number of of them are their nation's all-time greats?
To reply that query, FOX Sports activities compiled the 11 All-Time Worldwide Groups. Subsequent is the US of America.
*The all-time statistics and particular person data under are for the Males's Nationwide Group solely
GK: Brad Friedel
Cap: 82
Notable golf equipment: Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers, Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur
It's arduous to not go together with Tim Howard, America's all-time main goalie, who made a World Cup file 15 saves within the 2014 Spherical of 16 loss to Belgium. However with all due respect to Howard, Friedel was probably the most proficient in an extended line of elite USMNT goalkeepers. In 2002, he stopped probably the most profitable U.S. staff of the fashionable period and saved two penalty kicks within the group stage — together with one in a decisive 1-1 draw with World Cup co-hosts South Korea — because the U.S. reached the quarterfinals. Friedel retired from the nationwide staff a 12 months earlier than Germany 2006, however continued to excel within the English Premier League properly into his 40s. He nonetheless holds the premiership file for many video games performed with 310.
DEF: Sergiño Dest
Cap: 32
Notable golf equipment: Ajax, FC Barcelona, AC Milan, PSV Eindhoven
As stable a servant as Steve Cherundolo was because the USMNT's No. 1 for greater than a decade, Dest is probably the most gifted in program historical past. Born and raised within the Netherlands to a Dutch mom and an American soldier father, he rejected the advances of the time.orange supervisor Ronald Koeman and dedicated his worldwide future to the USA in 2019. He’s solely 23 years previous and has already suited up for Ajax, Barcelona, AC Milan and present membership PSV – groups which have gained 17 European titles between them. Dest was a standout on the 2022 World Cup, beginning each sport and offering the successful help for Christian Pulisic in a 1-0 group stage win over Iran – a victory that despatched the USA into the knockout phases.
DEF: Eddie Pope
Cap: 82
Notable golf equipment: DC United, Actual Salt Lake
Broadly considered America's biggest defender of all time regardless of spending his whole skilled profession in Main League Soccer, Pope led his nation to the quarterfinals of the World Cup in 2002 and was additionally a first-team starter in 1998 and 2006. His elegant model on the pitch and understated demeanor off it belied his bodily dominance, particularly within the air. The College of North Carolina product additionally excelled on the membership degree, main DC United to 3 MLS Cups, two Supporters Shields and Concacaf, Intercontinental and US Open Cup titles within the late Nineties.
DEF: Carlos Bocanegra
Cap: 110
Notable golf equipment: Chicago Hearth, Fulham, Rangers
Bocanegra, who competed on the 2006 and 2010 World Cups, captained the USMNT on the latter and on the 2009 Confederations Cup, the place the USA shocked humbled Spain within the semifinals earlier than falling to Brazil 3-2 within the closing. The UCLA product additionally wore the armband for Fulham within the Premier League and for Rangers in Scotland. Along with his management and lock-down defending, Bocanegra additionally had a penchant for scoring in massive moments. His 14 targets are probably the most by any American centre-back and he was Fulham's second high scorer within the 2006–07 season, behind solely fellow American Brian McBride.
Cap: 41
Notable golf equipment: Fulham
For many years, the USMNT's depth chart at left again was so shallow {that a} parade of proper backs or transformed wingers—Frankie Hejduk, Eddie Lewis and DaMarcus Beasley amongst them—ended up filling a hard-to-fill spot. However a pure lefty and famous Star Wars fan, Robinson has made the place his personal. The lightning-quick two-way defender, who was born and raised in England, was one among America's greatest gamers on the 2022 World Cup as he helped shut down Three Lions right-back stars Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka in a goalless draw with England in Qatar. He has solely improved since then, changing into one of many Premier League's greatest left-backs within the 2023-24 season and successful the Cottagers' participant of the season award.
Cap: 51
Notable golf equipment: FC Schalke 04, Juventus
It's not simply that McKennie has been an automated starter since making his U.S. debut — and scoring — in opposition to Portugal in 2017, when he was simply a youngster. Now 25, the hard-running Texan was among the finest midfielders in all of Italy's Serie A final season. In Might, McKennie helped Juventus win the Coppa Italia, his second since arriving in Turin in 2020. He performed within the UEFA Champions League with Juve and German membership Schalke , who acquired a two-metre, box-to-box midfielder. FC Dallas Academy in 2016. McKennie was voted US Soccer's Participant of the Yr in 2020 and was named MVP of the Concacaf Nations League Finals a 12 months later. He began all 4 video games for the USA on the 2022 World Cup and likewise helped the USMNT retain the Nations League crown in 2023 and 2024, enjoying all 210 minutes in that 12 months's closing because the Individuals beat Jamaica within the semifinals and Mexico within the title decider. .
MID: John O'Brien
Cap: 32
Notable golf equipment: Ajax
Accidents minimize quick his rising profession, nevertheless it's no coincidence that O'Brien was a key determine on two of probably the most profitable American males's groups of the fashionable period. The cerebral, technically good, two-way central midfielder logged each minute of the Individuals' run to the semifinals of the 2000 Olympics and the quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup, the place he scored the opening objective in a 3-1 group stage victory. Portugal.
“When he's on the sector, he makes us so much higher,” US captain Claudia Reyna stated of O'Brien, who left his native California at 16 for Ajax's famed academy and helped the Amsterdam membership win two Dutch caps. titles and attain the spherical of 16 of the Champions League. His final skilled struggle got here in 2006 on the age of 28.
MID: Tab Ramos
Cap: 87
Notable golf equipment: Actual Betis, MetroStars
Arguably probably the most expert offensive expertise in program historical past, Ramos was the piano participant on U.S. groups that have been dominated by piano carriers within the 1990, 1994 and 1998 World Cups. Born in Uruguay, Ramos moved to New Jersey at age 11 and shortly discovered himself on the identical youth staff as future Nationwide Soccer Corridor of Famer John Harkes. Whereas nonetheless in highschool, he was drafted by the New York Cosmos of the previous North American Soccer League, and though he accepted a school scholarship as a substitute, Ramos went on to play for Spain's Actual Betis (whom he helped promote to La Liga) and Tigres of Mexico earlier than returning house. to assist launch MLS in 1996 as the brand new league's first signing. A 12 months after being named Concacaf's participant of the 12 months in 1994, he helped the USA attain the semifinals of the Copa América – a run that included a shocking 3-0 group stage victory over Argentina.
Cap: 66
Notable golf equipment: Borussia Dortmund, FC Chelsea, AC Milan
Pulisic continues to be solely 25 years previous and is properly on his method to changing into the best American participant of all time. He was the primary American participant to seem and win the UEFA Champions League, serving to former membership Chelsea to the European title in 2021. He already has 4 American Footballer of the Yr awards, tied with Landon Donovan for probably the most all-time. and scored the game-winner over Iran to ship the USMNT into the knockout phases of the 2022 World Cup. Pulisic is just getting higher as his main approaches. In his first season with Italian titans AC Milan in 2023-24, Pulisic set profession highs in targets (15), appearances (50) and minutes performed (3,617). His subsequent strike for the USA pulls him even with Brian McBride for fifth in USMNT scoring and simply two behind Eric Wynalda in fourth.
FW: Clint Dempsey
Cap: 141
Notable golf equipment: New England Revolution, Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur, Seattle Sounders FC
The one American to seek out the again of the online in three completely different World Cups (2006, 2010, 2014), Dempsey can be the nationwide staff's high scorer together with Donovan — although the “Deuce” scored 16 fewer of his 57 profession targets for the USA. . The lanky Texan would absolutely have been single had it not been for a coronary heart situation that sidelined him for components of 2016 and 2017. Dempsey can be nonetheless Fulham's high scorer within the English Premier League, scoring 50 premiership targets for the London membership from 2006-12. He went on to make 47 appearances for the Seattle Sounders and win the MLS Cup earlier than calling it quits halfway by means of the 2018 season.
FW: Landon Donovan
Cap: 157
Notable golf equipment: San Jose Earthquakes, LA Galaxy, Bayern Munich, Everton
Donovan burst onto the scene on the 1999 FIFA U-17 World Cup, the place the Southern Californian gained the Ballon d'Or because the match's greatest participant and led the Individuals to the semifinals. Three years later, he scored twice on the main match in Japan/Korea because the USA narrowly misplaced to Germany within the quarterfinals. (Donovan was later named the very best teenager on the 2002 World Cup.) In 2010, he scored three targets in 4 video games in South Africa and gained a file six MLS Cups between spells with main European golf equipment Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich and Everton. With 58 profession assists, Donovan trails solely Brazilian nice Neymar for probably the most assists of all time on the worldwide degree.
Honorable Point out
Forged: Tim Howard, Marcelo Balboa, DaMarcus Beasley, Claudio Reyna, Michael Bradley
Doug McIntyre is a soccer author for FOX Sports activities. Earlier than becoming a member of FOX Sports activities in 2021, he was a contributing editor for ESPN and Yahoo Sports activities United States males's and ladies's nationwide groups at a number of FIFA World Cups. Comply with him on @ByDougMcIntyre.
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