The Most Successful US Soccer Players

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A lot of people wonder how come the USA men's national soccer team had yet to win any major trophy, given the great conditions that soccer players from US have in what regards training and diet.

Well the reason behind this is not really that hard to understand, since, let's face it, in the USA, soccer was always overshadowed by other sports such as football, basketball, baseball or hockey.

With the above sports being played mostly by men, soccer was somewhat of an open lane for sportive women to stand out throughout and they took the opportunity with both hands.

Actually, most of the famous American soccer players are women, although American male players have their fair share of legendary faces.

Let's go down and meet them first hand:

US Soccer Players - Michelle Akers (1966)
Michelle was a three-time All American winner and has one of the best goal tallies in the history of US soccer. Michelle scored an impressive 105 goals in official matches for the USA women's national squad and also had 37 assists, making her not only a quality striker, but also a good passer.

Her impressive statistics were only beaten by Mia Hamm, her 1999 World Cup winning teammate. Michelle and Mia Hamm were the only two women nominated in FIFA and Pele's list of "125 Greatest Living Soccer Players".

US Soccer Players - Mia Hamm (1972)
Mia is considered the best USA soccer player in history and also a symbol for many women throughout the World. She holds the record for scoring the most international goals throughout her career, more than any living soccer player, male or female.

She is one of the most famous USA soccer players, as she won the women's FIFA World Player of the Year award twice (2001 and 2002), was introduced, together with Michelle Akers, in Pele’s "125 Greatest Living Soccer Players" and she was also selected for the National Soccer Hall of Fame in the US.

US Soccer Players – Cobi Jones (1970)
Cobi Jones is undoubtedly the most famous USA soccer player up to this date. He's one of the few American soccer players to appear in 3 different World Cups, playing for his national side in 1994, 1998 and 2002. He had a long and successful career, being the USA soccer player with the most appearances to his national side, no less than 164!

Having just recently retired, Cobi Jones will be thoroughly missed by his fans, since he was considered the "engine" of the US national side for the past decade.

US Soccer Players - Landon Donovan (1982)
Landon stepped up in the lights of the media when he was just 17, winning the Golden Ball at the 1999 U-17 World Championship and being almost immediately signed by German giants Bayer Leverkusen.

1 year later, Landon Donovan would become one of the youngest USA soccer players to debut in the national team and shortly thereafter he was even given captaincy of it. Donovan already has 90 appearances and 30 goals for the US soccer team and I believe that he will top Cobi Jones' records at the end of his career.