When it comes to the historic U.S.–Mexico rivalry, one name immediately comes to mind: Landon Donovan. From one Dos a Cero to another, he came to symbolize the evolution and intensity of the rivalry itself. But the story extends far beyond the results on the field. In this Set Piece, Donovan acknowledges how deeply this relationship shaped him, both as a player and as a person.
I grew up in Southern California where the majority of my teammates were Mexican. This experience not only shapes you as a player, but more importantly, it shapes you as a person through the sport. I learned Spanish because I was playing with all these kids from Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Mexico, or Guatemala. In order for me to actually get the ball from them, I had to learn how to speak their language. […] There are many lessons you can learn, but the ability to connect with people you would never otherwise connect with is probably my favorite part of being a professional soccer player.
Landon Donovan American Soccer Legend