The US Men’s National Soccer Team (USMNT) has produced many great players, with some playing and winning trophies with top European clubs. Who are the top 25 best US soccer players of all time?
This post explores the top 25 players in USMNT’s history. We picked these players based on their caps, coals, and influence on the national team. We also looked at how they impacted the sport as well.
25. Deandre Yedlin
Position: Right Back
Caps: 80
Goals: 0
Years Active: 2014 – Current
Yedlin started playing college soccer with Akron before signing his professional contract with Seattle Sounders. He later took his talent to England and Turkey, playing for Newcastle United and Galatasaray.
With the USMNT, Yedlin has a reputation of making tireless runs on the right side of the field, capable of playing as a right-back, wing-back, and even midfielder. Still an active player, Yedlin should continue to receive call-ups and add to his national caps.
24. Eddie Lewis
Position: Left Wing
Caps: 82
Goals: 10
Years Active: 1996 – 2008
Lewis played college soccer with UCLA and later joined the MLS in 1996, drafted by San Jose Clash. He was so good he earned the Rookie of the Year title and later received his first national call-up in 1996 against Peru.
Lewis later moved to England, playing for several clubs such as Leeds United and Fulham. He later played in the Premier League with Derby County. With the USMNT, Lewis played in many major tournaments, including the 2002 and 2006 World Cup.
23. Steve Cherundolo
Position: Right Back
Caps: 87
Goals: 2
Years Active: 1999 – 2012
Steve spent his entire professional career playing in Germany, specifically with Hannover 96. He recorded 370 total appearances with the club over 15 seasons.
Cherundolo was such a steady presence in the backfield of the USMNT he played in most US major tournaments, including the 2006, 2010, and 2014 World Cups.
His most memorable moment with the USMNT was during the 2014 World Cup. He helped the USMNT reach the last 16 finishes in the World Cup, including setting up Landon Donovan for the winning goal against Slovenia.
22. Jeff Agoos
Position: Center Back
Caps: 134
Goals: 4
Years Active: 1988 – 2003
Jeff Agoos played most of his professional soccer career in the US. He played in a series of US leagues before starting in Europe with SV Wehen in 1994. He returned to the US to play in the MLS, joining DC United and San Jose Earthquakes.
Jeff Agoos may be more recognized for his role today as the Vice President of the MLS, but he has had an illustrious career with the USMNT. He recorded over 134 appearances with the national team and is one of the players with the most US national caps.
21. Alexi Lalas
Position: Center Back
Caps: 96
Goals: 10
Years Active: 1991 – 1998
Alexi Lalas played college soccer with Rutgers before joining the Italian club Padova. He became the first American to play in the Serie A by doing that. He later returned to the US to play in the MLS with New England Revolution. He retired from the LA Galaxy in 2003.
He is also a mainstay with the US national team, being called up 96 times to put on the Stars and Stripes. He may most be remembered for his performance with the USMNT in 1994, earning an honorable mention in the All-Star list.
20. Tony Meola
Position: Goalkeeper
Caps: 100
Goals: 0
Years Active: 1988 – 2006
Tony Meola gave up baseball for soccer, despite being drafted by the New York Yankees when he first got out of high school. He played in England briefly before returning to the MLS in 1996. He won the MLS Cup and MVP in 2000 with Kansas City Wizards.
He made his first appearance with the USMNT in 1988 against Ecuador. Meola was part of the national team in the 1994, 2002, and 2006 World Cups. Meola later made it to the US Soccer Hall of Fame, inducted in 2012.
19. Joe-Max Moore
Position: Forward
Caps: 100
Goals: 24
Years Active: 1992 – 2002
Moore played collegiate soccer with UCLA, where he became teammates with many future USMNT players, such as Brad Friedel, Chris Henderson, and Cobi Jones. Moore later played in Germany and with English Premier League club Everton.
With the Stars and Stripes, he was part of the national team that played in the 1994, 1998, and 2002 World Cup. He was the sixth player to earn 100 US national caps, achieving that in 2002. His 24 goals also made him the 6th top goalscorer for USMNT.
18. Earnie Stewart
Position: Striker, Midfielder
Caps: 101
Goals: 17
Years Active: 1990 – 2004
Son of an Air-Force airman, Stewart grew up in the Netherlands. He later began his professional career playing in the Dutch Eredivisie for VVV Venlo. After scoring 15 goals in over 60 games with the team, Stewart received his first call-up with the USMNT.
He represented the US national team 101 times and in many tournaments. He may be most remembered for scoring the goal that defeated Colombia during the final match of the 1994 World Cup group stage. That goal helped the USMNT to progress to the knockout stage.
17. Cobi Jones
Position: Midfielder
Caps: 164
Goals: 15
Years Active: 1992 – 2004
Cobi Jones first played in England and Brazil before settling in the MLS with LA Galaxy. With the LA Galaxy, he recorded 306 appearances, scoring 70 goals. Cobi also has a long career with the USMNT, where he played 164 times and netted 15 goals.
Jones represented the USMNT in three World Cup Finals, 1994, 1998, and 2002. After playing in 1995 Copa America, he became popular in Latin America due to his bleached dreadlocks, earning the nickname Escobillón (cotton swab.)
He is also the most capped player in the history of US soccer, with 164 appearances. The record does not seem to be in jeopardy anytime soon, as not many active USMNT players have even crossed 100 caps.
16. Kasey Keller
Position: Goalkeeper
Caps: 102
Goals: 0
Years Active: 1990 – 2007
After finishing college soccer with Portland, Keller went to Europe and played in Germany, Spain, and England. He later returned to the MLS, playing with Seattle Sounders before hanging his gloves in 2011.
With the national team, his first cap was as a replacement for Tony Meola in the 1990 World Cup. Keller may be remembered for his 10 saves to help the US defeat Brazil 1-0 1998. His battle with Brad Friedel for starting positions at goal was also well remembered.
15. Eric Wynalda
Position: Forward
Caps: 106
Goals: 34
Years Active: 1990 – 2000
Eric Wynalda got into soccer thanks to his father, a soccer coach. He later played with San Diego State for college soccer before taking his talents to Germany. He later returned to the MLS before retiring in 2008.
His first call-up with the Stars and Stripes was in 1990 against Costa Rica. He played in several World Cups with the USMNT in 1990, 1994, and 1998. He retired from the national team as the top goalscorer and was later inducted into the Hall Of Fame in 2004.
14. Paul Caligiuri
Position: Defensive Midfielder
Caps: 110
Goals: 5
Years Active: 1983 – 1997
Paul Caligiuri’s professional career took him to Europe, where he played in Germany with clubs such as SV Hamburg and Hansa Rostock. He later returned to the US to play with the LA Galaxy in the MLS.
Caligiuri first played for the USMNT in the 1983 Pan-American Games. He totaled 110 appearances for the national team, with 5 goals. He was also in the USMNT’s 1990 and 1994 World Cup teams.
He is, however, most remembered for the ‘Shot Heard Around The World.’ This refers to his winning goal against Trinidad and Tobago, which confirmed that the US qualified for the 1990 World Cup after 36 years.
13. Carlos Bocanegra
Position: Defender
Caps: 110
Goals: 14
Years Active: 2001 – 2012
Carlos Bocanegra’s professional career is a well-traveled one. He spent time playing in France, Spain, England, and Scotland. He was a mainstay with Fulham and was part of the Fulhamerica group of US players playing for Fulham.
Bocanegra’s career with the USMNT was long and illustrious, with over 110 appearances and 14 goals. He was well remembered for his versatility. He has played left, right, and center back with the Stars and Stripes.
12. Marcelo Balboa
Position: Defender
Caps: 127
Goals: 13
Years Active: 1988 – 2000
Marcelo Balboa played college soccer with San Diego State before turning professional with San Diego Nomads. Before joining the MLS with Colorado Rapids, he went to Mexico to play with Leon. He won the MLS Goal Of The Year award in 2000.
His first call-up with the USMNT was against Guatemala in 1988. He was the mainstay and anchor of the US’s central defense during the 1990 and 1994 World Cup. He was, however, most remembered for his near-miss bicycle kick against Colombia in the 1990 World Cup.
11. Jozy Altidore
Position: Striker
Caps: 115
Goals: 42
Years Active: 2007 – Current
Jozy Altidore was a regular with the USMNT in the 2010s, starting as a striker and scoring many goals. He was part of the US World Cup finals squad in 2010 and 2014. He was also the 2nd youngest US player to reach 100 caps, just behind Landon Donovan.
Altidore is frequently used as a target man as a player due to his height and strength. He is also used to holding the ball during attacks while the other teammates surge up the field. He is also a prolific goal scorer, scoring 42 goals for the US national team.
10. Brian McBride
Position: Forward
Caps: 96
Goals: 30
Years Active: 1993 – 2006
Brian McBride had an amazing college career, scoring 72 goals in 89 games. That gave him the confidence to try out in Germany, and his success with VFL Wolfsburg started the trend of US players going to Germany. He was also part of the Fulhamerica crew and played for Fulham for 5 seasons.
With the Stars and Stripes, McBride was also a significant player. He was on the US national team in 1998, 2002, and 2006 World Cup Finals. He was also the first US player to score in two World Cups, with only Clint Dempsey doing better with three.
9. Tim Howard
Position: Goalkeeper
Caps: 121
Goals: 0
Years Active: 2002 – 2017
Tim Howard may be one of the best goalkeepers the US has ever produced. His illustrious club career saw him playing with Manchester United, winning the FA Cup. He was also the regular goalkeeper for Everton for over nine seasons, with 327 appearances.
With the USMNT, Howard was seen as the natural successor from Kasey Keller, and he took over in 2007. He remained the starting keeper for the US national team and played through the 2010 and 2014 World Cup finals. He retired in 2017 as the most-capped US goalkeeper in history.
8. Christian Pulisic
Position: Attacking Midfielder, Winger
Caps: 60
Goals: 25
Years Active: 2016 – Current
Christian Pulisic leveraged on his Croatian heritage to apply for a European passport, and used it to join a club there. He signed with Borussia Dortmund as a 16-year-old teenager. He built a reputation as an attacker with great vision and killer instinct.
He later went to Chelsea where he was a key figure in the team under manager Graham Potter. Recently, Pulisic joined another historic European team, AC Milan, on a four-year contract. He is known for having exceptional speed, great first touch, and the ability to carve open defenses with a single-through pass.
With the USMNT, Pulisic is also a regular. He earned his first cap in 2016 against Guatemala. He was also the youngest player to score for the USMNT in the modern era, at 17 and 212 days old. He has scored 25 goals in 60 appearances so far.
7. Eddie Pope
Position: Defender
Caps: 82
Goals: 8
Years Active: 1996 – 2006
Eddie Pope played his entire professional career in the US with DC United, Metrostars, and Real Salt Lake. His squad was the first winner of the inaugural MLS season, lifting the MLS Cup in 1996.
Eddie was also a regular with the USMNT, with 82 caps. Eddie’s best moments with the national team were during the 2002 World Cup Finals, where he led the team to qualify for the quarter-finals. In 82 appearances, he scored 8 goals.
6. DaMarcus Beasley
Position: Winger, Left Wing Back
Caps: 126
Goals: 17
Years Active: 2001 – 2017
DaMarcus Beasley is a well-traveled professional. He played in the Netherlands with PSV Eindhoven and later in England, Scotland, and Mexico. He later returned to the MLS, playing with Houston Dynamo before retiring.
As a USMNT player, DaMarcus played in four World Cup Finals, in 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014. He was instrumental in helping the Stars and Stripes reach the quarter-finals in the 2002 World Cup. He played his last game for the US team in 2017.
5. Brad Friedel
Position: Goalkeeper
Caps: 82
Goals: 0
Years Active: 1992 – 2005
Brad Friedel tried to sign for English clubs early in his professional career but was frequently denied a work permit. He later played in Denmark and Turkey before returning for an illustrious career in the Premier League with Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers, and Aston Villa.
With the USMNT, Friedel was initially the backup for Tony Meola. He later took over and performed spectacularly in the 2002 World Cup Finals. His acrobatic saves kept the US in many close games and helped the team to reach the quarter-finals.
His performance during the tournament earned him the nickname ‘The Human Wall’ by US soccer fans. Friedel played for several more years after the World Cup before retiring from the national squad in 2005.
4. Claudio Reyna
Position: Midfielder
Caps: 112
Goals: 8
Years Active: 1994 – 2006
After college soccer at the University of Virginia, Claudio Reyna joined the group of US players that played in Germany in the 90s. He then played with clubs such as Bayer Leverkusen, Manchester City, Glasgow Rangers, and Sunderland.
His first US national cap was in 1994 against Norway. He later was part of the USMNT in the 2002, 2006, and 2010 World Cup Finals, with the first two as captain. He is often seen as the stable rock in the squad, controlling the game and directing attacks from the center of the field.
When the Stars and Stripes were eliminated in the group stage of the 2010 World Cup, he announced his retirement from the national team.
3. Michael Bradley
Position: Central Midfielder
Caps: 151
Goals: 17
Years Active: 2006 – Current
Michael Bradley bounced around Europe, playing in Holland, Germany, and Italy before finding foot back home in MLS. He starts regularly in the middle of the field for Toronto FC and still plays with the club today.
With the USMNT, Bradley occupies the center of the field. He often picks up balls from defenders, and they try to launch an attack from the deep. Bradley was also in the US’s 2014 and 2018 World Cup Finals squads. He is one of the most capped US players in history.
2. Clint Dempsey
Position: Forward, Midfielder
Caps: 141
Goals: 57
Years Active: 2004 – 2017
Clint Dempsey grew up playing soccer with the local Mexican kids in his hometown of Nacogdoches, Texas. He later joined Fulham in the English Premier League and was known to play unpredictably, with extreme flexibility.
He was capable of scoring with both feet or head. He has even shown flashes of amazing skill, such as scoring goals by chipping the goalkeeper. He is, however, prone to aggressive behavior, resulting in red cards and suspensions.
He was one of the most capped players in the US national team’s history and scored many goals to repay that faith. He was also part of the USMNT in the 2006, 2010, and 2014 World Cups.
1. Landon Donovan
Position: Forward, Winger
Caps: 157
Goals: 57
Years Active: 2000 – 2014
A US Soccer Hall of Famer, Landon Donovan is probably the US Golden Boy in soccer. It would not be far-fetched to claim that he is the best soccer athlete the US has ever produced.
He first played in Germany with Bayer Leverkusen before becoming a regular in the MLS. From over 340 appearances in MLS, he scored 145 goals. He has the MLS MVP award named after him.
He had an equally illustrious career with the USMNT, with 57 goals in 157 appearances. He was the second most capped US national team player, only 7 caps behind Cobi Jones. He also participated in three World Cup Finals in 2002, 2006, and 2010.
