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By Jonathan Lewis | 8th Jul 2022

Read on to find out about which 11 soccer players are regarded as the best the USA has ever produced

The 11 Best US Men’s Soccer Players of All Time

The United States may not be as famous as Brazil, France, or England when it comes to producing world-class soccer players, but there have been a few throughout history that have certainly made names for themselves.

If you’re a fan of online sports betting, then you are probably familiar with a lot of these names, but without further ado, and in no particular order, here are the greatest US men’s soccer players ever.

Cobi Jones

A player from the late 90s and early 2000s, Cobi Jones helped put US soccer on the map. He played for Coventry City in the UK, Vasco da Gama, and more famously, LA Galaxy.

He also played for his country 164 times, scoring 15 goals in the process. He won the Gold Cup in 2002 and the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup, and the MLS Cup.

Tab Ramos

Even though Tab Ramos was born in Uruguay, he became a household name in American soccer. He played for the New Jersey Eagles, the Miami Sharks, and the MetroStars. He also spent time overseas and kitted up for Figueres, Real Betis, and the UNAL Tigers.

He spent 12 years playing the USMT, making 81 appearances and scoring 8 goals. He has also dived into coaching, with his recent role being the head coach of the MLS outfit, the Houston Dynamos.

Brad Friedel

A name very familiar to Premier League fans, Friedel had an illustrious career across multiple leagues and teams, including Liverpool, Spurs, Aston Villa, and Blackburn Rovers. He played for the USMT for 13 years, with his club career spanning 20 years.

He has also coached; and was the manager for the United States U19 team, as well as the MLS team, the New England Revolution.

Tim Howard

Another goalkeeper player who made a name for themselves in the Premier League is Tim Howard. He played for multiple teams, including the MetroStars and Manchester United, with his longest stint being at Everton.

He played 329 games for the Toffees, scoring just one goal too, and also made 121 appearances for his country. He is widely regarded as one of the best keepers in Premier League history.

Clint Dempsey

Clint Dempsey is one of the best strikers to ever come out of the United States and plied his trade in both his home country and England. He made 189 appearances for Fulham, scoring 50 goals, and also spent a season at Tottenham Hotspur before moving to the Seattle Sounders.

He is also the joint leading goalscorer, with Landon Donovan, for his country, where he has scored 57 goals in 141 appearances.

Christian Pulisic

One of only two active players on this list, Christian Pulisic, is proving that the USA is still producing world-class players. Currently with Chelsea, he rose to prominence while playing for German giants Borussia Dortmund.

“Captain America,” as he is affectionately known, has made 48 appearances for the USMT, and has scored 21 goals. He has also won the Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup, and the Club World Cup,

Claudio Reyna

Arguably one of the best footballers to come out of the States, and the former captain of the men’s national team, Claudio Reyna is a US football legend. He played in Germany, Scotland, and England with Bayer Leverkusen, Rangers, Manchester City, and Sunderland.

The midfielder also made 112 appearances for the USMT, scoring 8 goals in his international career. He is now the sporting director for Austin FC in the MLS.

Thomas Dooley

A player who is probably lesser known to younger generations but no less important is Thomas Dooley. He spent most of his career playing in Germany, particularly with FC Homburg and FC Kaiserslautern.

Surprisingly, he only spent seven years playing for the USMT, making 81 appearances and scoring 7 goals. He has also coached in Germany and Vietnam and was the head coach of the Philippines national team for four years.

Michael Bradley

Michael Bradley has been a stalwart of US football for many years now. Currently with Toronto FC, he has played for Roma, Chievo, Aston Villa, Borussia Moenchengladbach, and Heerenveen.

He has played  151 matches for the USMT, has scored 17 goals, and has played over 420 career club games; he is another player regarded as being an essential pillar of US soccer.

Brian McBride

Another lesser-known but no less important player is Brian McBride. He started his career in 1994 with the Milwaukee Rampage and went on to play with Wolfsburg, Preston North End, Everton, Fulham, and the Chicago Fire.

He played 95 games for his national team, and he scored 30 goals. He won the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2002 and was inducted into the U.S Soccer Hall of Fame in 2014.

Landon Donovan

Finally, this player is widely regarded as the best American ever to play soccer. Landon Donovan had a 20-year career that saw him play for Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich, Everton, and over 250 appearances for the LA Galaxy.

His individual honors are seemingly endless, including being a multi-time MLS All-Star, a Gold Cup win, multiple Golden Boot awards, and being named the MLS’s Greatest Player of All Time.

Jonathan Lewis is an MFF sports writer