Landon Donovan has returned to the United States national soccer team's roster after an absence that lasted nearly 11 months. Donovan and fellow veteran Oguchi Onyewu were amongst the 23 players selected for the roster for the North and Central American CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament.
However, former Team U.S.A. World Cup captain Carlos Bocanegra was among 12 players to miss the cut after making the preliminary roster on May 31. U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann decided against selecting many U.S. players playing on Europe-based clubs as they are on vacation before the beginning of the 2013-14 regular season.
Donovan has represented the United States in three World Cups and has been the face of American soccer for over a decade. He hopes to regain his position as the team's starting midfielder on the roster before World Cup qualifying continues in September.
Donovan has enjoyed one of the most decorated international-play careers in U.S. Soccer's history. He won the Golden Ball at the 1999 FIFA U-17 World Championship, an award given to the tournament's most valuable player. During his time with the U-17 team, he scored 35 goals in 41 appearances.
Donovan also represented the United States for the U-20 and U-23 teams. He made a total of 19 appearances for both teams and scored nine goals while spending the majority of his time playing for the senior national team during that span.
Donovan has been a member of the United States senior national team since 2000. Donovan is the career scoring leader for the United State with 49 goals and second only to former U.S. and L.A. Galaxy teammate Cobi Jones (164) in career appearances with 144.
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