Landon Donovan Signs With Mexican Club Leon, Slams Trump’s Border Wall Idea [VIDEO]

by Pablo MenaJanuary 17, 2018, 6:26 pmDaily Digest, News, Z-Home Slider >

Landon Donovan has come out of retirement — again — to play in the Mexican soccer league.

Landon Donovan signing with Leon news

The attacking midfielder — who will be 36 in March — was formally introduced as a new member of Club Leon on Monday night, and he took a moment to express his love for Mexico and criticize U.S. President Donald Trump for his proposed border wall… in Spanish.

“As I said on Twitter, I don’t believe in walls,” Donovan said with a mic before a raucous, cheering crowd at Estadio Leon. “And when I was young, I started playing soccer with Mexicans. And it was always a dream of mine to play in Mexico. And now I’m here, and I’m here to help you all win a trophy, another championship.”

“Landon Donovan doesn’t believe in walls and wants to win titles with “La Fiera!” the club tweeted. Welcome home to the best fan-base. #BeingFieraisPride”

Indeed, Donovan, who is sometimes nicknamed “Captain America,” became very fond of Mexicans while growing up in Southern California and learned to speak fluent Spanish.

“Almost without realizing it as I got into my teens, I played with a distinct style different from other Americans and I never really understood why until I really started to analyze it and realized that I grew up playing with Mexicans and Latinos,” said Donovan. “I didn’t know any other style of football.”

“I know Mexican people are very kind people,” he said. “Like I said on Twitter, I don’t believe in walls and it’s important that our countries are together. We should be friends and companions.”

The most accomplished player in U.S. soccer history, he first retired in 2014 after a 15-year career that included stints with Germany’s Bayer Leverkusen, British club Everton and the MLS’s San Jose Earthquakes and Los Angeles Galaxy.

Donovan played for the Galaxy from 2005 to 2014, and retired then but subsequently made a brief comeback with the team in late 2016.

Now, the winger will hope to help a team in a league considered by some to be stronger than MLS, 14 months after he last stepped on a field. Some have already begun dismissing Donovan’s signing with Leon as a marketing ploy. Donovan — a four-time U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year Award winner — is the U.S. Men’s National Team’s all-time leader in assists, and is also tied with Clint Dempsey for first in all-time scoring.

Donovan played with the USMNT in three FIFA World Cups (2002, 2006, 2010), and won the World Cup Best Young Player Award in 2002. After being controversially omitted from the final roster for the 2014 World Cup, Donovan joined ESPN as a studio analyst, and contributed to the broadcast team for that tournament.

He also worked as a color commentator for FOX Sports. In March 2017, Donovan joined a private ownership group seeking to bring the next MLS expansion team to San Diego.

CARSON, CA – SEPTEMBER 11: Landon Donovan #26 of the Los Angeles Galaxy enters the game against Orlando City FC returning from retirement at StubHub Center on September 11, 2016 in Carson, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)