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Most Americans know Christian Pulisic, or at least they should with the 2026 World Cup coming to the United States. He’s the face of the U.S. men’s national team, the guy American fans are counting on this summer.
But where does he actually rank among the best goal-scorers in national team history?
Pulisic has climbed up the ranks quickly in his national team career, but still has a ways to go before he nears the top of the pile.
Here’s a look at the top all-time scorers in USMNT history.
Dempsey became the first American to score at three World Cups and spent 13 years finding ways to be dangerous for the national team. Donovan is best remembered for his goal against Algeria in the 91st minute at the 2010 World Cup, one of the most iconic goals in USMNT history.
Altidore was the USMNT's top striker options for most of a decade. A big, physical presence up front, Altidore started representing his country at just 17 and kept at it until 2019. Nobody has come close to his 42 goals since he stopped playing for the national team.
Before Pulisic, before Dempsey and Donovan, there was Wynalda. One of the first Americans to carve out a pro career in Europe, Wynalda played in three World Cups, scoring a memorable free kick in 1994 on home soil.
So, here’s the answer to the question that started this story: fifth. Pulisic has not score for the national team since 2024 and has been open about wanting to end that drought. A big World Cup on home soil this summer could move him up the list in a hurry.
The workhorse of the USMNT for years, McBride didn’t have the most glamorous role but he made the most of it. He scored twice against Portugal in the 2002 World Cup in one of the biggest upsets in tournament history, a result that helped the U.S. reach the quarterfinals.
Moore was one of the steadiest scorers the national team had through the 1990s, playing in two World Cups and quietly building a record that holds up well against the players who came after him.
Murray scored 21 goals for the national team at a time when U.S. soccer was barely on the radar internationally and the idea of MLS was barely a dream.
Johnson burst onto the scene by scoring eight goals in his first 10 games for the national team, which is the kind of start that makes it seem like a record could eventually fall. Johnson didn't keep up that pace, but he spent a decade as a reliable option for the U.S. and finished with 19 goals.
Beasley suited up for four World Cups, which no other American man has ever done. Bradley was the engine of the midfield for 13 years and his father Bob coached the national team during part of his run. Stewart scored at the 1994 World Cup and decades later came back to run the whole operation as U.S. Soccer sporting director.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: USMNT all-time top scorers: Dempsey and Donovan lead the way
Continue reading...
But where does he actually rank among the best goal-scorers in national team history?
Pulisic has climbed up the ranks quickly in his national team career, but still has a ways to go before he nears the top of the pile.
Here’s a look at the top all-time scorers in USMNT history.
1. Clint Dempsey (2004-2017) and Landon Donovan (2000-2014) – 57 goals
Dempsey became the first American to score at three World Cups and spent 13 years finding ways to be dangerous for the national team. Donovan is best remembered for his goal against Algeria in the 91st minute at the 2010 World Cup, one of the most iconic goals in USMNT history.
3. Jozy Altidore (2007-2019) – 42 goals
Altidore was the USMNT's top striker options for most of a decade. A big, physical presence up front, Altidore started representing his country at just 17 and kept at it until 2019. Nobody has come close to his 42 goals since he stopped playing for the national team.
4. Eric Wynalda (1990-2000) - 34 goals
Before Pulisic, before Dempsey and Donovan, there was Wynalda. One of the first Americans to carve out a pro career in Europe, Wynalda played in three World Cups, scoring a memorable free kick in 1994 on home soil.
5. Christian Pulisic (2016-present) - 31 goals
So, here’s the answer to the question that started this story: fifth. Pulisic has not score for the national team since 2024 and has been open about wanting to end that drought. A big World Cup on home soil this summer could move him up the list in a hurry.
6. Brian McBride (1993-2006) - 30 goals
The workhorse of the USMNT for years, McBride didn’t have the most glamorous role but he made the most of it. He scored twice against Portugal in the 2002 World Cup in one of the biggest upsets in tournament history, a result that helped the U.S. reach the quarterfinals.
7. Joe-Max Moore (1992-2002) - 24 goals
Moore was one of the steadiest scorers the national team had through the 1990s, playing in two World Cups and quietly building a record that holds up well against the players who came after him.
8. Bruce Murray (1985-1993) - 21 goals
Murray scored 21 goals for the national team at a time when U.S. soccer was barely on the radar internationally and the idea of MLS was barely a dream.
9. Eddie Johnson (2004-2014) - 19 goals
Johnson burst onto the scene by scoring eight goals in his first 10 games for the national team, which is the kind of start that makes it seem like a record could eventually fall. Johnson didn't keep up that pace, but he spent a decade as a reliable option for the U.S. and finished with 19 goals.
10. DaMarcus Beasley (2001-2017), Michael Bradley (2006-2019) and Earnie Stewart (1990-2004) - 17 goals
Beasley suited up for four World Cups, which no other American man has ever done. Bradley was the engine of the midfield for 13 years and his father Bob coached the national team during part of his run. Stewart scored at the 1994 World Cup and decades later came back to run the whole operation as U.S. Soccer sporting director.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: USMNT all-time top scorers: Dempsey and Donovan lead the way
Continue reading...
