There’s a perception among football fans that – despite its size and influence in other sports — the USA offers very little by way of footballing mastery. Baseball, basketball, and the NFL leave ‘soccer’ low in the pecking order, leading to an inappreciable talent pool compared to nations in Europe and neighboring South America.

But while the USMNT’s dusty trophy cabinet supports the blurred perspective, it fails to account for the many American-born footballers who have left their country to star in great teams all across the globe. From Brian McBride to Cobi Jones, there have been some fine players to grace the pitch elsewhere in their careers, and they deserve their time in the limelight.

To prove they have boasted superstars throughout its football history, GIVEMESPORT has created a list, ranking the 15 greatest players to ever play for the USA.

Ranking factors

• International achievements (honours, appearances, goals, assists, etc)
• Club achievements (honours, appearances, goals, assists, etc)
• Individual awards
• Legacy within football

15

John O’Brien

Career Span: 1998-2006

At a time when it was not yet commonplace for American players to play in Europe, John O’Brien was something of a trailblazer. His status was further enhanced by playing for a club as prestigious as Ajax. The midfielder, who has 32 caps for the United States, has played very little MLS football, making just one appearance for Chivas in 2006.

Unfortunately for him, as talented as he was (Landon Donovan even named him ‘best soccer player in the USA’), the Los Angeles native has seen his promising career take an almost dramatic turn, as injuries have not spared him.

14

Steve Cherundolo

Career Span: 1999-2014

Steve Cherundolo is one of those outstanding American players who never played in MLS during his career. In the case of the former full-back, it was in Germany, and more specifically in Hannover 96, that the former international with 87 caps spent his entire professional career.

Nicknamed the ‘Mayor of Hannover’, the Portland Pilots-trained player played for the Reds and remains one of their most-capped players – 423 appearances, 302 of them in the Bundesliga. A true legend who paved the way for a number of his compatriots to cross the Atlantic and join the Old Continent in the future.

13

Marcelo Balboa

Career Span: 1988-2000

Center-backs feature prominently in this ranking – as you will soon realize. Marcelo Balboa is the latest example. Recognizable in a million ways thanks to his imposing mullet and typical 90s mustache, the Chicago native was nonetheless an exceptional talent.

The first player in history to reach the symbolic milestone of 100 caps for the USMNT (he has a total of 127), Balboa was one of those players who could be described as ahead of his time. At least, that’s what his ability on the ball and his technical quality in a game dominated by physical impact suggested. A true legend of the game.

12

Carlos Bocanegra

Career Span: 2001-2012

Of the many talented defenders to have come through the US ranks, Carlos Bocanegra is certainly one of the greatest — his 110 caps (14 goals) for the USMNT being just one of the most tangible examples.

The Upland, California native has built most of his reputation on European soil, where his adventures have taken him to Ligue 1, the Scottish Premiership, the Premier League and even the Spanish second division. However, these experiences have not prevented him from shining on his native soil, where he won the only collective trophy of his club career — the 2003 U.S. Open Cup with the Fire.

11

Eddie Pope

Career Span: 1996-2006

If we stick to the category of great American defenders, it is simply impossible not to mention the name of Eddie Pope. Known for his all-around defensive ability, the former D.C. United player is one of those talented players who did not choose to move to Europe when he would have deserved to make a name for himself there.

No, Pope made the choice to stay in the United States and take part in the rise of Major League Soccer — and US soccer in general. And if he is to be believed, he has no regrets about it.

10

Tab Ramos

Career Span: 1988-1996

Tab Ramos had a devastatingly short career in comparison to his talents. The fleet-footed attacking midfielder’s playing days were marred by injury, with two knee injuries in seven years making his chances of longevity limited. But that didn’t stop him from becoming one of the US’s finest architects.

Perhaps his best-known assist was the pass that set up Paul Caligiuri’s goal in the USA’s 1-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago in 1989, which clinched the team’s first World Cup appearance since 1950. He also tallied a vital goal in a 1-0 qualifying win over Costa Rica for the 1998 competition. He played in three World Cups, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame, despite a short-lived apex.

9

Brian McBride

Career Span: 1993-2012

Brian McBride never took no for an answer. He played football fearlessly and never left anything left on the pitch once the final whistle blew. Curiously nicknamed ‘McHead’, the forward was never afraid to put his head where it hurts, and he remains his nation’s fifth-highest goalscorer. He played a key part of the 2002 World Cup campaign — a summer where the USA recorded their best-ever international finish when they reached the quarter-finals.

It is with Fulham that his lionhearted bravery played a starring role at club level. As the club’s top scorer in the 2006-07 Premier League season, he was handed the captaincy, and he returned from a gruesome knee injury to save the club, scoring three goals as part of the 2007/08 relegation battle known around the club as the ‘Great Escape.’

8

DaMarcus Beasley

Career Span: 1999-2019

Traveling doesn’t form a vital part of a football player’s artillery. However, the fact that DaMarcus Beasley played in eight different countries across a 20-year career is impressive, all the same – especially when added that he achieved a more than respectable tally of 126 caps for the USMNT.

Of those many clubs and ventures, it was with PSV in the Netherlands, and Rangers in Scotland, where Beasley made a name for himself. The winger possessed a wand of a left foot and fired both sides to two league titles apiece between 2004 and 2010. His longevity for the Stars and Stripes saw him win the CONCACAF Gold Cup for a record five times.

7

Tim Howard

Career Span: 1997-2021

Tim Howard achieved national acclaim at the 2014 World Cup after his stellar display against Belgium. The then-Everton stopper recorded 16 saves – a World Cup single-match record – and was quickly labelled the “Secretary of Defense”, receiving a call from President Obama, and spawning the #ThingsTimHowardCouldSave hashtag for his exploits.

Certainly, it was Howard’s career high point. But after enduring such a long spell between the posts, there are plenty of other reasons the New Jersey native deserves a place in US footballing stardom.

On and off the pitch, he proved he was worth his weight in gold as a heroic leader, and his contributions for Everton and Manchester United show he was up to the task of playing in the best league in the world — a league he even recorded a goal thanks to a swerving goal kick against Bolton Wanderers in 2012.

6

Claudio Reyna

Career Span: 1994-2008

Born to two Argentinians, Claudio Reyna also exhibited a tango-esque flair to his game, with his verve and flamboyance to keep the midfield cog ticking feeling much like a cheat code for the US national team throughout the 90s and early 00s. His only obstacle was a poor fitness record, with injuries limiting his time at Rangers, Sunderland, and Manchester City.

Nonetheless, whenever he did feature, Reyna was a key feature in some sparkling team performances. His best season came in 1999-00, when the Gers won the Scottish Premier League and Cup double. For his country, Reyna appeared in four World Cup tournaments, with his 2002 magnum opus earning him a place in the Team of the Tournament.