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No matter what Clint Dempsey does for the rest of his United States national team career, he’s never going to completely wipe Landon Donovan from the record books. But with his goal on Saturday against Costa Rica, Dempsey did move one step closer to diminishing Donovan’s place in history by tying the USMNT’s all-time scoring record.
Donovan playfully suggested they simply call it a tie.
Complete performance from the #USMNT Congrats to @clint_dempsey on tying the record...feel free to stop now and we can share it ♂️
— Landon Donovan (@landondonovan) July 23, 2017
Dempsey’s first chance to break the record will come on Wednesday when the USA will face the winner of Sunday’s semifinal between Jamaica and Mexico. If it’s Mexico, Dempsey could break the record against the team he’s faced more than any other (9) without scoring.
Donovan can at least rest reasonably easy knowing that the chances of Dempsey catching him for the all-time assists lead is safe. Donovan retired with 58. Although Dempsey now sits alone in third after his impressive helper to Jozy Altidore on Saturday, he still only has 20.