7 Best U.S Soccer Players Of All Time

Often an underappreciated source of star quality, The United States of America have developed some outstanding soccer players over the years.

A number of Americans have found domestic success with many spreading their wings across Europe and onto the international stage. 

So who are the best U.S Soccer players of all-time?

7. Jozy Altidore

Jozy Altidore was one of the best U.S Soccer players of all-time. He played most notably for Dutch side AZ and MLS club Toronto FC, winning the KNVB Cup along with an MLS Cup in 2017 and three consecutive Canadian Championships.

Altidore madehis full international debut in 2007. He scored 42 goals in 115 international matches for the national soccer team and was named U.S Soccer Athlete of the Year twice.

6. Cobi Jones

Cobi Jones featured as a forward for the likes of Coventry City, Vasco da Gama and LA Galaxy. He scored 70 goals for the American league side, winning the MLS Cup twice and the U.S Open Cup on two occasions. 

Amongst the best U.S Soccer players of all-time, Jones made 164 international appearances which remains the most by any American, hitting 15 goals for his country and winning the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2002.

5. Brian McBride

Forward Brian McBride played 450 times for the likes of Columbus Crew, Premier League Fulham and Chicago Fire whilst scoring 114 club goals, winning the U.S Open Cup in 2002 along with Fulham’s Player of the Year twice.

As one of the best U.S Soccer players of all-time, McBride represented his country 95 times and scored 30 goals in the process. He won the CONCACAF Gold Cup, was named as an MLS All Star on five occasions and also inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame for 2014.

4. Tim Howard

Tim Howard is one of the best U.S Soccer players of all-time. The goalkeeper featured predominantly for Manchester United, Everton along with spells at the likes of Metrostars and Colorado Rapids. He made 700 senior appearances and won the English Football League Cup in 2006.

Howard made his international debut in 2002 and went on to claim 121 caps. He helped the Americans win the CONCACAF Gold Cup twice, named U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year twice and CONCACAF Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year three times. 

3. Christian Pulisic

Amongst the best U.S Soccer players of all-time, dynamic attacking midfielder Christian Pulisic made his international debut in 2016 and scored 29 goals in 68 appearances. He won the CONCACAF Nations League three times and was awarded U.S Soccer’s Male Player of the Year on four separate occasions! 

Pulisic has played over 300 times for the likes of Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea and AC Milan having scored a total of 60 times to date. He has claimed a DFB-Pokal, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.

With the 2026 World Cup scheduled to be held in America and Pulisic expected to be a key player in the tournament be sure to get your bets in for the tournament on https://readwrite.com/gambling/betting/soccer/ where the U.S and Pulisic will be expecting to put in a strong performance, being the home nation.

2. Clint Dempsey

Forward-thinking midfielder Clint Dempsey spent time at the likes of Fulham, Tottenham and Seattle Sounders, making a total of 475 club appearances and finding the net 155 times in total. He won the MLS Cup, U.S. Open Cup along with being named both Fulham Player of the Season twice and as their top scorer on two separate occasions.

Dempsey is considered one of the best U.S Soccer players of all-time. He earned 141 caps for his country and scored 57 times to become his country’s joint top scorer ever. He claimed the CONCACAF Gold Cup three times, receiving a trio of U.S Soccer Athlete of the Year awards, also inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame during 2022.

1. Landon Donovan

Undoubtedly one of the best U.S Soccer players of all-time is legendary American striker Landon Donovan. He played for such clubs as Bayer Leverkusen, LA Galaxy along with loans at both Bayern Munich and Everton. Donovan featured over 500 times at club level whilst hitting 200 goals whilst winning a combined six MLS Cups at San Jose Earthquakes and LA Galaxy.

Over the course of 157 caps, he scored 57 goals and remains the U.S joint highest scorer in their history. He won U.S Soccer Athlete of the Year four times, named MLS Greatest Player of All-Time and became a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2023.