By TRAVIS CLARK
As Landon Donovan's national team career ticks on, previous records continue to fall. With the all-time goal scoring title firmly his, a cap on Saturday night will give him the overall lead in World Cup qualifiers with 32.
At the moment Donovan is currently tied with Kasey Keller, Eddie Pope, and Claudio Reyna at 31 qualifying appearances and barring unforeseen circumstances will make the record his own on Saturday night in Sandy, Utah.
"I'm proud of the fact that I've been around long enough, I've consistently made a contribution to this team, and I've been a player that coaches want to call on," Donovan told ussoccer.com. "Now getting to this point you realize how difficult it is to do what they have done. Guys come in for a few camps, a few games and make an impression, but those guys consistently contributed to the national team."
While in the past Donovan has come under his share of criticism, he's a player performing at the top of his game and needs to be continually at his best to ensure both qualification and any kind of success the U.S. hopes to have at the World Cup next summer.
The 27-year-old still has a long career ahead of him and could end up making a run at Cobi Jones' all-time cap record. Currently in fourth place with 116 caps — which is best among active players — Donovan has a ways to go to reach the 164 mark of Jones, but with perhaps two World Cups ahead of him has plenty of time to make up the distance.
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