Donovan Wins Honda Player of the Year Award

Landon Donovan has been named the Honda Player of the Year for the sixth time in his career and, with six awards in the past nine years, earned the title of Honda Player of the Decade, as well. He won the 2009 title over Tim Howard and Jozy Altidore. The latter two both had great years with the National Team, as Howard won the Golden Glove at the Confederations Cup, while Altidore scored 5 goals in the Hex and the game winner in the USMNT's historic upset victory over Spain. Nevertheless, Donovan deserves this title, as he is in the midst of perhaps his finest season as a professional.

This past year, Donovan scored 5 goals and assisted on 10 others for the US. Donovan's most recent goal clinched the USMNT's sixth consecutive berth in the World Cup, while arguably his most spectacular took place in the Confederations Cup final against Brazil, when he and Charlie Davies combined for a masterful counterattack and clinical finish. Donovan's spectacular vision and passing ability have also been on display all year, as exemplified by his assist to Conor Casey in San Pedro Sula or his perfect throughball to Charlie Davies in Estadio Azteca.

The year (already a successful for Donovan and the USMNT) was very close to being even more memorable. If the US could have held onto their lead in the Confederations Cup final, Donovan would have won his first international trophy outside of CONCACAF, and he very likely would have earned the Golden, Silver, or Bronze Ball award. His outstanding play in this tournament led to a number of rumors about Donovan's future at the club level, and many still believe that the LA Galaxy front man will be headed to Europe in the winter.

Heading into his third career World Cup, Donovan is certainly the on-field leader of USMNT. As Landon goes, so does the rest of the team. Fortunately for his teammates and American fans, Donovan is in some of the best form of his career. The Confederations Cup helped open the eyes of people who were previously unaware of Landon or simply doubted his abilities, and he will be looking to show fans once more just how well he and the USMNT can play the world's game in his return to South Africa next summer.