The greatest CONCACAF players of all time

Hotbed of talent
Jared Borgetti
Claudio Reyna
On the move
Tim Howard
Clean sheets
Javier Hernandez
Some time with Real Madrid
Luis Hernandez
Claudio Suarez
Brad Friedel
Landon Donovan
Cuauhtemoc Blanco
Clint Dempsey
Jorge Gonzalez
Keylor Navas
Hugo Sanchez
Hotbed of talent

The CONCACAF region has long been a hotbed of soccer talent, producing top-class players who succeeded on the international stage. From goalscoring forwards to rock-solid defenders, these athletes have brought glory to their nations. Let's take a look at some!

Jared Borgetti

Known for his clinical heading ability and great vision on the pitch, Jared Borgetti was regarded as one of the best during the 1990s-2000s. The Mexican was unsuccessful during his time with Bolton (England) in 2006 but played for big Mexican clubs like Monterrey, Chivas, and Pachuca. He would retire in 2011.

Claudio Reyna

Claudio Reyna, born July 20th, 1973, in Livingston, New Jersey, went on to build a successful career abroad in the Premier League and the Bundesliga. He secured his move to Bayer Leverkusen in 1994 from Virginia Cavs, the first of many big deals.

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On the move

The Portuguese-American national was an excellent midfielder with great touch. After moving around in Germany, he went on to play for Sunderland and Manchester City in 2003/2004.

Tim Howard

Arguably one of the best goalkeepers the US Men's National Soccer team has ever witnessed, Tim Howard stands as an American soccer icon. His extensive and successful career abroad with teams like Manchester United and Everton (2004-2016) reflects his quality on the pitch.

Clean sheets

During his time in the Premier League, the American keeper played 399 games, having 133 clean sheets, according to Transfermarkt.

Javier Hernandez

Also known as the 'Chicarito', Javier Hernandez stands out as one of the most prolific goal scores to come out of the American continent. The Mexican forward started his career at Chivas, but then made a big move to Manchester United in 2011. He would also go on to play in La Liga, the Bundesliga, and the MLS.

Some time with Real Madrid

'Chicharito' also enjoyed a short stint with Real Madrid, after the Spanish club secured a last-minute lone back in 2014. The Mexican striker was involved in some important games, even scoring important goals for the 'Madridistas', forever forging his name into the club's history.

 

Luis Hernandez

Luis Hernandez, the iconic blond-haired striker nicknamed 'El Matador' was a goal-scoring sensation during the 90s. He mainly played for Latin American teams like Boca Juniors and CF America, and LA Galaxy.

Claudio Suarez

Claudio Suarez is regarded as another great Mexican soccer player, whose extensive soccer career lasted 21 years. He was a successful defender for teams like Chivas and Tigres UNAL in the Mexican league.

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Brad Friedel

The former US Men's National Team goalkeeper enjoyed a 20-year career, playing for teams like Galatasaray, Newcastle, Blackburn, and Aston Villa. The 53-year-old American is still linked to the world of soccer, working as a Director Agent for Besiktas.

Landon Donovan

Landon Donovan is another name that might resonate with soccer fans across the globe. The Californian striker spent a large chunk of his career over at the German Bundesliga and the Premier League, playing for teams like Bayern Munich and Everton. The former striker cashed in 188 goals in 489 starts, according to Transfermarkt.

Cuauhtemoc Blanco

The Mexican midfielder is remembered for his great vision on the pitch and his lethal finishing abilities. He spent most of his career bouncing between the Liga MX and the MLS.

Clint Dempsey

The Texas-born midfielder was another American-born soccer player who succeeded abroad. He spent half a decade in the Premier League playing for Fulham and a few years for Tottenham Hotspurs. His highest market value was during his stint at Tottenham, where the American was valued at $16 (€15/£12) million.

Jorge Gonzalez

Born in El Salvador, Jorge Gonzalez, also known as 'Magico', went on to have a successful soccer career in the Spanish league during the 1980s. The striker went on to play for Cadiz CF and Real Valladolid. He would score 30 goals in 100 La Liga appearances, according to Transfermarkt.

Keylor Navas

Keylor Navas, born in Costa Rica, was one of the most in-demand goalkeepers during the 2010s. He was one of the best keepers at the 9-yard box. Navas signed for Real Madrid in 2015, where he would later go on and win multiple European trophies with the Spanish giants. He also played for PSG and Nottingham Forrest after leaving Madrid in 2020.

Hugo Sanchez

The Real Madrid legend Hugo Sanchez is a name many soccer fans around the world will remember as being one of the best strikers to ever play in Europe. Real Madrid poached him off Atletico de Madrid during the 85/86 season for $1.3 (€1.2/£1) million. During his 347 La Liga games, he scored 234 goals, reports Transfermarkt.

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