4) Landon Donovan (USA) – 1999
A product of the first US Soccer residency program, Landon Donovan is arguably the greatest football player to come from the United States of America. Donovan won the Golden Ball in 1999 when USA finished fourth in the U-17 World Cup.
Donovan played for the U-17 side for two years, scoring 35 goals in 41 games. He would make it to the senior team and also win the Best Young Player Award in the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
His performances saw Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen sign the forward but he still spent a number of seasons on loan at San Jose Earthquakes. It wasn’t until 2005 when he made the big move to Los Angeles Galaxy where he spent the next nine years in the MLS.
Donovan would make more than 150 appearances for the United States, scoring 57 goals in a 14-year international career. He is the country’s highest goalscorer and also holds the MLS record for most goals (145) and assists (136). The Major League Soccer MVP Award is also named in his honour and is now known as the Landon Donovan MVP Award.
