Who are the three best USMNT players ever?

The U.S. men's national team is less than two weeks away from playing the 500th match in national team history on January 19th against Sweden. In honor of that landmark moment, The U.S. Men's national team soccer blog is asking national team fans a very tough question. Who are the three best U.S. national team players of all time?

The only guideline to follow is that you must only take into account a player's national team career, and not club career. All other factors are up to you.

So who would you choose? Landon Donovan, Eric Wynalda, Tab Ramos, John Harkes, Kasey Keller, Eddie Pope, Claudio Reyna, Earnie Stewart, Cobi Jones, Marcelo Balboa? Joe Gaetjens?

Who is on my ballot? I'm going to need some time to figure that one but I think Donovan and Wynalda make strong cases to be on the list. Same goes for Keller. That isn't my list, just some guys who have really strong cases.

Let us hear your list. Name your top three U.S. men's national team players of all time (and remember to submit your entry on the USMNT blog as well).

Comments

[CACuzcatlan]

Keller for sure. I have to think about the other two, but I'd say he is our best goalkeeper ever.

[ben]

1. Landon Donovan
2. Brad Friedel
3. Claudio Reyna

The 2002 glory weighs heavy in my opinion.

[furia yanqui]

I agree with Waldo and Landon, but I'd put up Brad Friedel before Kasey. Kasey has played many of the greatest games in goal (including the greatest ever, vs. Brazil in the Gold Cup win). But he started for two failed World cup teams, while Brad was possibly the second best keeper of the 02 Cup (after Ollie Kahn) in the US run to the quarters.

McBride may also deserve consideration, as the only guy to score in two World Cups. Would he be the country's all time scoring leader if not for injuries?

Reyna? Was great in the 02 Cup, and people shouldn't diss him so much. But he never lived up to the promise born in that great game vs. Mexico in 95. My enduring images of him are the times he hit the post in the Cup -- in 98 vs. Iran and in 02 vs. the Czechs. If he buries those shots, most likely we would be in the second round in the last three Cups. Cool as a cucumber, but maybe a bit too cool to be among the very best, even if he had the talent for it.

Hard to compare the players of the last 15-20 years with the 1930 team.

[dwbpnm]

In my opinion his world cup performances eliminate Keller from even getting close to this list. Keller and Friedel have a similar performance record in friendlies and qualifiers against CONCACAF minnows (keller has more total games). But Friedel has a WC quarterfinal appearance(for which he was vital) to Keller's first round exits(including some errors). Even Meola has a 2nd round appearance to trump Keller. I'd say the three best players in national team history so far are Wynalda, Reyna, and Beasley. The great thing is I think if we look back in 10-20 years none of the players we'll all list will be considered.

[BJR]

Donovan is also a lock. He is the first USMNT player that I can remember (since I began following the USMNT in the early 90s) who I felt could change the outcome of a game on his own and who did not seem afraid to take players on. I know that he can seem incredibly inconsistent, but statistically speaking (and excluding an abysmal 2006) speaking, he has been the most consistent goal scorer and assist creator.

The other two spots are tougher. Keller seems to have a good case. There were many games that he single-handedly saved for us.

[Steve W]

Donovan
Friedel
Keller

No order for me, if we're basing this on talent.

[Craig]

Donovan
Wynalda
Keller

[Joamiq]

My initial reaction is to go with the first three guys you listed: Donovan, Wynalda, and Ramos. But I'll have to think about this. Eddie Pope is definitely up there for me.

[I love soccer]

1) Mike Burns
2) Richie Williams
3) David Regis

You guys are CRAZY to name anyone else

[3 points of view]

Donovan
Mcbride
Friedel.

[Steve T.]

Wynalda
Donovan
Balboa
Friedel
McBride

Pick any 3 of those five.

[Johnny]

Friedel over Keller (Without Friedel the USMNT never would have made it out of the knockout stage in the 2002 WC) Keller is in the top 5 but not 3. I still have a bad taste in my mouth from Keller's performance from 2006 WC (even though some of the conceeded goals weren't his fault).
Friedel stopped 2 penatlies in the 2002 WC! I Wish he stuck around a little longer. I also wich he would lose that hybrid accent.

I hate to give it to Donovan, but he has the stats. He pulls through for you against Mexico, but what other games that mattered has he really played well. This guy doesn't like to be out of his comfort zone. I wonder how many goals he has for the USMNT that were not scored on American soil. Remember when he declined to go to the Copa America because he had to stay with the Galaxy to "save" the team. Then a little later he goes to play in a meaningless friendly in Sweden. The bottom line is this guy wasn't up for the hostile environments and challenges that were waiting for him in South America. While I'm at it I wonder how many of his USMNT goals are penalties. I can't stand the pre pk ritual.

Third- Ernie Stewart. Thank you Netherlands!

[Stan]

Why would anyone include Joe Gaetjens on their list but not Billy Gonsalves. Gonsalves's career accomplishments are incomparably greater.

[Boomer]

Reyna
Friedel
McBride

From qualifying for 2002 through 2006 the USMNT was notably worse without Reyna in the lineup. He clearly the best field player on the best US team ever. We are a soccer nation whose best players have been keepers. Friedel has had a better USMNT career in my mind, but you can make a case for either Friedel or Keller. I admit that McBride has been my favorite American for years. He has been a consistent force up front who was always very good and is often the case with quiet players, has been most notable by his absence.

You could go with a number of others including Wynalda, Keller, Harkes, Stewart to name several.

Donovan? I don't get it. He might be the most talented, but he is not the most important player or best player.

[Rocco]

Friedel
Reyna
Donovan

Friedel over Keller considering the last WC. One of the top goalies in the world when he was on his game. Probably still could play for the national team even at his advanced age. 38?

Reyna. It might be a long time before we see someone again that had the same vision, passing skills and ball control as him. He brought a sense of confidence and calmness to the rest of his teamates.

Donovan. When he's on his game, he can take guys on like no one we have produced thus far. Great goal scorer when he's hot.

I have a feeling that Altidore, Adu, and a couple younger guys will make a strong case in the future.

[ok]

harkes anyone? the guy was a G both for the MNT and in europe, and it is possibly the biggest shame in US soccer history when he was excluded from the world cup roster for whatever garbage reasons, when he should have been captain. as much of a harkes fan as i am, im tempted to leave him off because he didnt play in that world cup, but that wasn't his fault so he's staying (and the US' performance in that world cup is only further proof). i'm also torn between choosing two from donovan, wynalda, and pope. eddie pope is the posterboy of the MLS. one of the few, if not the only other besides landon donovan, that the MLS has produced that was truly a world class player- you should hear testimonies on his behalf from players like tim howard who have played with some of history's great defenders. however, i think in the end wynalda had a bigger impact on the game, and if he brings back the "red-card yellow card" segment, his influence will only grow. and reyna, while a great player, pales in comparison to all these guys. does no one remember he was dropped to right back because of the form of johnny o and pablo? friedel and mcbride are also on my radar, but my final three is:

donovan, harkes, wynalda

[Stiffy]

Reyna
McBride
Donovan

[Pat]

Wynalda
Reyna
Harkes

[vreleven]

Donovan, Tabare, and Wynalda in no particular order.

If you would ask supporters of other national teams-especially Mexicans-to name our three best players, I'm certain Donovan would be on 99.9% of their lists.

We,USMNT supporters, have developed certain biases towards Donovan, but I'll bet that most every other national team, if given the choice, would rather face us in a meaningful game without Landon.

[vreleven]

Ives, are there robots that are not automated?

[Jon Jon]

1. Roy Wegerle
2. Claudio Reyna
3. Brad Friedel

[Pat]

We,USMNT supporters, have developed certain biases towards Donovan, but I'll bet that most every other national team, if given the choice, would rather face us in a meaningful game without Landon.

I think Italy, Ghana, and the Czechs would disagree.

[andy b.]

Do people remember Thomas Dooley? British guy... maybe... played midfield. As a kid I think he was my favorite. Not even sure I have that name right, but I'm still putting him up on my list.
Then it'd be Donovan.
Finally, Ernie Stewart-- good call on that one, earlier poster.
Alternate would be Friedel.

[Michael F.]

The most influential players in the most important games:
Donovan
Friedel
Keller

[Danny]

1. Friedel
2. Pope
3. Reyna

[kpugs]

Guys, the USMNT existed before the 1990s.

1. Landon Donovan
2. Walter Bahr
3. Joe Gaetjens (arguably the most important American goal EVER? I don't care if he played less than a handful of times)

Immediately behind these guys in my mind would come any of Reyna, Harkes, Keller, and several others.

[fig]

uh, ramos anybody?

[Tim F.]

The criteria is different than the one for the first Q&A most recently posted.

I'm having a hard time choosing a top three so I'm going to sleep on it and see what I think tomorrow.

I only caught part of the careers of Ramos, Wynalda and Harkes so I'm not doing them justice! Would need to do some research here.

For now the list is:
1. Donovan
2. Reyna
3. Keller
4. Friedel
5. McBride

[groove]

Donovan - hahaha, that's funny

[Hincha Tim]

Andy B.:
FYI: As I remember, Dooley was a German kid who was the son of a German woman and an American Serviceman, who didn't speak very much English when he played for the U.S. team. I don't think he played for the U.S. until he was in his mid-30's since he had been trying to get on the German National Team

[xjas]

Landon Donovan
Brad Friedel
Claudio Reyna

[Matt GP]

I'm stealing someone's answer for this but I have to say:

1. Landon Donovan
2. Brad Friedel
3. Claudio Reyna

Keller could have been there but his unnecessary punt in the WC 2006 Czech Republic game which led to the first goal still haunts me.

[Kyle]

1. Kasey Keller
2. McBride
3. Donovan

[Zungazan]

- John Harkes
- Brad Friedel
- Tab Ramos

[rpb]

Keller>>Dooley>>Pope>>Reyna>>Ramos>>Donovan>>Balboa>>McBride>>Harkes>>Friedel>>Wynalda

[Jeremy]

1. Wynalda
2. McBride
3. Friedel

[George H.]

Friedel - His performance in '02 was nothing short of heroic. Without him, we don't advance, pure & simple. It was our finest hour in the WC. He also played a part in some big qualifying matches as well as in the '95 Copa America. Member of three WC teams. Great player.

Donovan - It's easy to disparage him, but what he has accomplished for the USMNT at this young age is very impressive. I'm not a fan of his at all, but you have to give him credit for his '02 performance as well as all of the great qualifying campaign matches that he has played.

The last one is really tough. While Reyna has had a long US career, I kind of feel like his success was more at the club level than with the USMNT.

Wynalda deserves a ton of credit for what he's done, but in the end, I have to give it to Keller. He's played as big of a role in the US qualifying for several WC's as Friedel did and realistically, could have been a member of five WC teams (Bora passed him over in '94). He played a huge role in two of the biggest non-WC wins in US history (Argentina in the '95 Copa America and Brazil in the '98 Gold Cup). Sure, he was part of some WC failures, but you can't put all of the blame on him for that. His USMNT resume is too good to leave him off.

[Awesomedude]

Lalas
Meola
Jones

[David Pappas]

My number 1 choice is Reyna. Without judging the success of the various teams he played on, he was the most successful central midfielder to ever play for the US. On a team that has often 'gotten by' with speed and aggression on the front line, he was the most technical and tactical player on the field most of the time. If we had a young Reyna on the team today we would automatically be ranked higher worldwide.

Friedel would be my number two choice. In many of the contests in which the US competed over the last decade, the team had to rely on a counter attack approach which stressed the importance of defense. Brad was pivotal in so many games I can't list them all.

The third choice is hardest and I honestly could list four or five players here. Landon is a great player but he plays with a stronger supporting cast then many of his up front predecessors. I won't list more then one goalie so Keller is out. I don't care - it would be a sad commentary on the USMNT to have two of the top players be goalies. One - no more.

I have a hard time not picking him but my sentimental pick is Brian McBride. An earlier comment was he would have been higher on the list if not for his injuries. My response would be - he would be lower because what made him great was his fearlessness. He put his head where he should not and occasionally suffered. More often good things happened and the USMNT succeeded.

[BrianK]

Reyna
Harkes
Keller
Pope

How can Claudio Reyna and John Harkes not be in the top three? Claudio was a 'Best Eleven' selection at the 2002 World Cup! John Harkes Co-MVP of Copa America 1995! Not only did both have lengthy and productive careers with the USMNT but they gave delivered world class performances in the most prestigious tournaments in world soccer. Kasey Keller has simply world class. Eddie Pope is simply the best defender the US has ever produced.

Friedel is a close second to Keller for me.

[nico]

1. Brad Friedel
2. Claudio Reyna
3. John Harkes

[andrewdiceway]

just three... wow. **curveball alert**

i'm not sure if he's top three, but rick davis belongs in this conversation. among other notable accolades his 36 caps were a record at a time when the USMNT wasn't playing many matches, without the knee injury he's in italy in 1990 (shame, because he deserved a world cup), scored a couple of goals against costa rica in the '84 olympics win, captained the squad through the 80s and was/is a class act. had he come along 10 years later he'd be a household name.

[Joamiq]

I think I'm just going to vote for 3 guys who seem like they're underappreciated. Ramos and Pope are up there for me.

[joe a]

Tony Meola
Tab Ramos
Eric Wynalda

I picked these guys because they shined when the national team wasn't as good as it is now...In his prime, Meola was a spectacular goalkeeper with drive to pump up his defenders.

[Chris H]

1. Brad Friedel
2. Landon Donovan
3. Eric Wynalda

[jmart]

1. Keller
2. Donovan
3. Pope

[Eric]

Ramos
Reyna
Keller

Taking injuries into account

Harkes
Keller
Pope

[Ty]

1. Donovan
2. McBride
3. Keller

[Erik Abarca]

Keller, Pope, Ramos

[Mike]

Seems that there is a consensus of 3 of the following 6 guys:

Friedel/Keller
Donovan
Reyna
Wynalda/McBride

These are all good players, but this exercise really shows that the US has never developed a world class player.