Thursday, Landon Donovan's name wasn't listed on the 23-man World Cup roster.
Sunday, Donovan's name was put atop the record books for most MLS goals. The 32-year-old scored his 135th regular season goal in the Los Angeles Galaxy's game against Philadelphia Union and later followed it up with No. 136. The Galaxy won, 4-1.
Donovan broke a tie with Jeff Cunningham with his first goal in four games this season — and his first game since the World Cup snub — with the 49th minute score that put the Galaxy up, 2-0. He is the career U.S. leader with 57 international goals and holds the MLS playoff record with 22 goals.
Fans at the stadium were already showing their opinion on the move to keep Donovan at home.
“If there are 23 players better than Landon then we have a chance to win the World Cup.” #LAvPHI #Landon135 pic.twitter.com/vq0InW6fos
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) May 26, 2014 “Greatest American Soccer Player.” #Landon135 #LAvPHI pic.twitter.com/hV7rKPMq0K
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) May 26, 2014More from Twitter:
Ultimately @landondonovan made a statement tonight. #LAvPHL
— Taylor Twellman (@TaylorTwellman) May 26, 2014
If tonight's game proved anything, it's that Landon Donovan is no longer a 90-minute player. Right? **crickets**
— Matthew Doyle (@MLSAnalyst) May 26, 2014 Most goals in @MLS Most goals in @ussoccer What else u want... Congrats @landondonovan #MLS #USMNT
— Sean Franklin (@SFranklin5) May 26, 2014 Landon Donovan 2 goals and an assist tonight for @LAGalaxy breaking MLS all-time scoring record. Jurgen Klinsmann reaction: "Yawn"
— Todd Grisham (@GrishamESPN) May 26, 2014 Yeah, so apparently there's no room for this Landon Donovan guy on the World Cup squad
— Ed Miller (@Edmiller04) May 26, 2014Donovan has played 307 regular-season games in 15 seasons. The Jamaican-born Cunningham, a former U.S. national team player, played in 365 games over 14 seasons with Columbus, Colorado, Real Salt Lake, Toronto FC and FC Dallas. He last played in MLS in 2011.
Donovan is No. 2 on the league's career assists list with 120, including one on Leonardo's second-minute header Sunday. Steve Ralston, a Houston Dynamo assistant coach who retired in 2010, has the record with 135.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.