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Landon Donovan has returned to the public spotlight with a couple of high profile appearances in the last week. On Monday, Donovan took part in Major League Baseball’s All-Star festivities by participating in a celebrity softball game. The USA’s all time leading scorer hit an inside-the-park home run that showed off the 34 year olds still electric pace.
On Tuesday, Donovan took to Facebook Live to announce the roster for the 2016 Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game vs. the Mexican U-20 national team, a match in which Donovan will coach the MLS youngsters.
After announcing the roster, Donovan took the time to answer some questions from the viewers. Like almost all news centered around the USMNT at the moment, the first question had to do with 17-year-old phenom Christian Pulisic.
The American had a breakthrough year with Borussia Dortmund and played for the USA at the Copa America Centenario, ensuring that the hype machine isn’t going to die down anytime soon.
“Christian Pulisic is much further along at that age than I was,” said Donovan. “It’s really exciting for me to see someone at that age playing significant minutes for a team like Borussia Dortmund.”
“At that age I was in Germany just trying to make the reserve team for Bayer Leverkusen. So that gives you an idea of how far he is already in his career, and how productive he’s been in what he’s doing.”
Donovan himself moved abroad to Germany at a very young age. After being awarded the 1999 FIFA U-17 World Cup Golden-Ball as the tournament’s best player, Leverkusen were quick to offer him a six-year contract. However, Donovan’s early struggles in Europe saw him return to the San Jose Earthquakes in 2001.
In that respect, Pulisic’s progress is that much more amazing to Donovan, the seven-time USA player of the year.
“I think the sky’s the limit for Christian Pulisic and if he continues on this path, he has a real chance to be special, and I think we’re all hoping for that.”
If Pulisic can surpass or get anywhere near Donovan’s totals of 157 caps and 57 goals, he’ll have had one hell of a professional career.
(H/T: MLS)
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