Chasing Landon Donovan

Landon Donovan was and continues to be the measuring stick for MLS players. His 334 MLS games played yielded 144 goals and 136 assists (both MLS records), numbers that could someday come under assault as the league continues to grow. Numbers that those who follow him on the pitches in MLS, will be compared to.

For a player to make a run at either of these records, they must have a combination of things. First they need longevity. Even at a 20 goal pace per season, a player would need over 7 seasons to overtake Donovan. That is a high output that would be difficult to sustain.

A player who puts up those kind of numbers (or even the numbers to overtake Landon in 10 seasons) will most likely be the center of transfer interest to a higher profile league. Donovan faced those same temptations and tried them a few times. He found he preferred playing at home and turned down some opportunities that would have taken several seasons away from his MLS career.

The second item needed is to be surrounded by a good team that is a perennial contender. Donovan’s time in San Jose saw him surrounded by good players like Brian Ching and Dwayne DeRosario, and his time with the Galaxy was spent with some of the best MLS has ever had to offer. Points are easier to rack up when you have choice finishers to pass to, and players like David Beckham providing service for your own runs.

Finally, a player has to stay healthy. Every player gets their share of nicks and nagging muscle ailments, but to avoid the bone breaks and ligament damages is a blessing that does not fall on everyone.

With that in mind, there are a few players currently in MLS that could challenge those numbers.

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Chris Wondolowski is the biggest current threat to the goal scoring mark. Wondo has 116 goals through 240 MLS games. As long as he remains healthy, he should be able to mount a challenge to the goal record. The only thing working against him is father time. Wondo turns 34 before next season, and as players age their production tends to significantly tail off.

Wondolowski is a tremendous worker around the box. He drives opposing defenders nuts with his movements and seems to get himself into the right positions. If he can get another 3 – 4 seasons out of his body, the record should be there for the taking.

Fanendo Adi of the Portland Timbers is a player who has the potential to blow past the goal mark if he remains in MLS. With 32 goals in 68 games, the 6 ft 4 inch forward has been a constant threat since his MLS debut. At 25 years old, he can rack up a lot of goals if he continues to ply his trade in MLS.

With his frame and nose for the goal, it is highly likely the young forward will have some other offers outside of MLS to consider. Much Like Adi, there are several young MLS forwards who fit this same bill. Orlando’s Cyle Larin and Seattle’s Jordan Morris are both players who would be expected to shatter the goal scoring mark if they were to stay in MLS long term. At this time though, those chances seem small.

Sporting Kansas City’s Brad Davis is the closest active player to Donovan’s assist record. With 122 assists in 378 games, Davis has not been near the pace Donovan was at. In Davis’s defense, his Houston teams never had the firepower across the lineup that Donovan was able to rely on with the Galaxy.

Davis will be 35 later this season, but should have enough left in the tank to put some pressure on Donovan’s 136 assist total. Another player to keep an eye on is the New York Red Bulls’ Sacha Kljestan.

Kljestan would have to put up some serious assist totals per season to get in the neighborhood of 136. Currently sitting on 53 assists in 157 games played, the 30 year old could get to the mark if his career sees him still performing on the back side of thirty. With 14 assists last season, Kljestan is currently on pace for 18 – 20 this season.

With NYRB willing to bring in top level players. Kljestan may find himself surrounded by able finishers for years to come. If he can take advantage of that and string together a couple of near 20 assist seasons, he could find himself knocking on the door.

There are other players who can make a run at these numbers who are just beginning their careers in MLS. Having a long productive career in MLS will be required to get there though, and with the current status of the league the best players are more apt to move on.

These numbers will be driven up higher as the league improves in stature. When MLS positions itself as a top league in world soccer, more skilled players will be willing to spend the biggest part of their careers (including their prime years) in the league. Even though Donovan’s records are bound to fall, he will for the foreseeable future be the MLS player others be chasing from a numbers and a status standpoint.