Ranking USA's top 10 greatest footballers

The MLS and the United States have produced an incredible number of top-level footballers over the years.

With the United States jointly hosting the 2026 World Cup with Canada & Mexico, a lot of attention of the footballing world is on America. The USA has produced a variety of talented players who found success in the Major League Soccer(MLS) as well as in Europe. Here we take a look at the top 10 greatest footballers who've hailed from the USA, from our perspective.

10. Cobi Jones

Cobi Jones was a physically dominant, hard-tackling midfielder who built a great club legacy while playing for his MLS side Los Angeles Galaxy. Such was his impact that the club decided to retire his jersey, after his playing career ended, in 2007. He had a career spanning three FIFA World Cups for the USA, he also became the record appearance holder for his country to date with 164 (15 goals). He scored 70 goals in 306 appearances for the LA Galaxy and also won two MLS Cups.

9. Christian Pulisic

Arguably the most talented young player to ever play for the USA. He has already won three USA Men's Soccer Player of the Year awards in his career, including one at 18 years old, after making his debut at 17. His maturity and awareness were way ahead of his peers and his ability put together allowed him to move to play in Europe at a very young age.

He's already made 175 appearances for Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea at the tender age of 24 and has a long career ahead of him. His fondly known as "Captain America" has scored 23 times in 58 appearances for his country already, and has the honour of being the second American after Jovan Kirovski, to win a Champions League.

8. DeMarcus Beasley

He was synonymous with being a hardworking, consistent left wide player, whose versatility and game intelligence allowed him to play and represent the USA men's national team for a long time. He has 126 appearances for the National Team and holds the distinction of being the only player from the USA to participate in four World Cups.

He had a 20-year playing career and starred for clubs in Europe such as PSV, Manchester City, Rangers etc., and made 420 appearances throughout his club career.

7. Brad Friedel

He was arguably the greatest export out of the USA for a goalkeeping talent, before the emergence of Tim Howard. Friedel played his initial years in the Premier League with Blackburn Rovers, & made 288 appearances over eight years. He later played nearly 100 games for Aston Villa & 50 games for Tottenham Hotspur, where he earned most of his plaudits.

He also holds the second most appearances(450) in the Premier League made by an American player ever, something even the great Tim Howard achieve. His best-ever moment for the National Team was when he was instrumental in USA's quarter-final run in 2002, where he earned the nickname of "The Human Wall" with his heroic saves.

6. Claudio Reyna

He today could be popularly known as Dortmund prodigy Gio Reyna's father, who was also an extremely accomplished footballer for the USA. He was the original "Captain America" before Christian Pulisic, as he served as the USA's captain in most of his 111 caps for his country. He became the first American in the modern era to be named to the FIFA World Cup All-Star Team in 2002.

He was known for his marauding runs down the right wing, where he plied most of his playing career and was the most influential, and was known for his playmaking and creativity. He had a long career in European club football playing in Germany & England predominantly, for Wolfsburg, Leverkusen, Manchester City, etc.

Claudio Reyna's son Giovanni Reyna is a also USA international. The youngster is currently making a name for himself in the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund.

5. Tim Howard

Arguably the greatest goalkeeper to represent the USA ever, Tim Howard was known for his brilliant positioning, reflex and athleticism in saving shots, particularly in the World Cup. He holds the World Cup record of making the most saves(16) ever, in a World Cup match, against Belgium, in 2014. He is also the most represented goalkeeper in USA national team history with 121 caps and featured in the 2010 and 2014 World Cups.

His club career is largely memorable for representing Manchester United and Everton, in the Premier League, with 399 combined appearances & was also named USA Soccer Player of the Year in 2008 and 2014.

4. Eddie Pope

Arguably the most complete and accomplished defender to ever play for the United States Soccer Team. He started in all 82 appearances for his country, including starring in three consecutive World Cups from 1998 to 2006. He was in the famous USA team which made it to the quarter-final of the World Cup 2002 and played a pivotal role in shoring up the defence. He mostly starred in the MLS, & played for the DC United, MetroStars & Real Salt Lake, making 254 appearances in total.

3. Brian McBride

The six-foot-tall striker is the fifth-highest goalscorer in USA Soccer history and was also a crucial part of the USA team which went to the quarter-final of the World Cup in 2002

The talented striker represented his country 85 times and was the second player to score consecutively in multiple World Cups which included 1998, 2002 & 2006, etc.

His most memorable moments for his country are the consecutive goals he scored in famous wins against Portugal and Mexico, in the World Cup in 2002. McBride also had a successful career with Fulham in the Premier League. He was inducted into the USA National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2014, & recognised for his contribution to USA soccer history.

2. Clint Dempsey

Clint Dempsey comes in at a close second in the all-time great list for the USA. He was amongst the greatest talents, USA soccer has ever produced and he went on to match Landon Donovan's all-time goal-scoring record of 57. He had a stellar career in the English Premier League with Fulham, where scored 50 goals in 189 appearances.

Besides, being a goal scorer, he went on to become a great playmaker as well, later in his career, reflecting his brilliant technical ability. He appeared in three World Cups and also became the only American to score in three consecutive World Cups, for the USA. His phenomenal career was also well recognised in his native USA, winning three US Male Soccer Player of the Year award winner also.

1. Landon Donovan

The greatest-ever footballing export from the USA has to be Landon Donovan. The incredible level of success he found for the USA, in particular, created numerous memorable World Cup moments, & arguably inspired a generation. In a recent poll conducted by ESPN and Major League Soccer, he was ranked as the greatest American soccer player of all time, also reflecting his high public opinion.

Donovan represented the USA a record 157 (2nd highest) times, and has the record of the highest goal individual contribution to date, scoring 57 goals & 58 assists (Both all-time highs) in his career. He also made 416 club appearances throughout his career, out of which 214 came for LA Galaxy in a nearly decade's worth of stay, winning two MLS Cups.