Few players have the grasp on MLS and US men's national team history that DaMarcus Beasley does.
The man is an undisputed legend of the league and for his country, with 222 combined MLS appearances in his career with the Chicago Fire and the Houston Dynamo, and 126 senior caps during an epic USMNT career from 2001-2017. It made him the perfect source to give his take on some all-time rankings for both, and on an in-depth interview with ESPN FC's Herculez Gomez earlier this week, Gomez made sure to get Beasley's take.
Asked who would be his pick as the MLS and USMNT GOAT, Beasley went with the obvious choice in naming former LA Galaxy superstar and his longtime USMNT teammate Landon Donovan for both honors.
"I think for the impact, 100 percent," Beasley said. "[Donovan] made the league. He was the league. It wasn't even like he made it, he was the league. He still is, now he has the MVP named after him. That's a good shout."
"For me, [for the USMNT] it's Claudio [Reyna], Landon and Clint [Dempsey]. Everyone has their own opinions, but for me, playing in that era with the older guys, the edge for me goes to Landon. I think it's not just how he played and the impact that he had in games that we really needed, for me he's the GOAT."
That's not exactly a hot take, but it got spicier when Gomez asked Beasley to compile his best all-time USMNT XI, which inevitably led to some tough debates, including a decision between Eric Wynalda and Jozy Altidore at the striker spot.
Check out Beasley's final submission below.
- Tim Howard
- Eddie Pope
- Carlos Bocanegra
- Marcelo Balboa
- Stevie Cherundolo
- DaMarcus Beasley
- Claudio Reyna
- Christian Pulisic
- Landon Donovan
- Clint Dempsey
- Jozy Altidore
