Landon Donovan is going viral after playing 'don't speak until you hear a player better than Clint Dempsey' game

Landon Donovan is going viral after he snubbed the likes of Eden Hazard, Mesut Ozil and Antoine Griezmann during a game of 'Don't speak until you hear a player better than Clint Dempsey'.

The 44-year-old former LA Galaxy forward, who made over 150 appearances for the United States national team, played with Dempsey on 77 occasions during his 14-year international career.

In fact, they ended their careers sharing the national team's goals record (57 goals).

Donovan has previously opened up about his complicated relationship with the ultra-competitive Dempsey. "We had the same intentions," he told CBS Sports in November 2023.

"We loved winning and we were competitive as f***, and so sometimes we went at it different ways. I hated, because of the way I grew up, confrontation."

Despite their differences, they always had respect for one another. Donovan has consistently praised Dempsey's quality after hanging up his boots. In fact, he thought the former Fulham and Tottenham striker was elite.

Speaking on the Unfiltered Soccer podcast with former USNT teammate Tim Howard this week, he was asked to play a game of 'Don't speak until you hear a player better than Clint Dempsey'.

Donovan was met with a number of top players, both past and present. Joe Cole made the list alongside Theo Walcott, Nani, Mesut Ozil, Sadio Mane, Robinho, Christian Eriksen, https://www.sportbible.com/mesut-ozil and Antoine Griezmann.

But to the surprise of many, he stayed silent for all of the above until Son Heung-min's name was mentioned.

Don't speak until you hear a player better than... Clint Dempsey. pic.twitter.com/JyRzf8Vdvc

— Unfiltered Soccer (@UnfilteredSoccr) May 26, 2026

Fans react to Landon Donovan's controversial take as clip goes viral

Donovan has got people talking after snubbing the likes of Eden Hazard and Antoine Griezmann.

One fan commented: "The most deliberate rage bait I've ever seen in my life," and another wrote: "Delusional. Everyone one of those players is better than Dempsey by a million miles."

A third said: "I loved Dempsey as a player but this is embarassing," while a fourth wrote: "Literally should have ended the video after Joe Cole."

A fifth added: "Dempsey doesn’t get the respect he deserves due to him playing for Fulham and being American, but let's be so f****** real, staying silent for some of these players is ludicrous."

Landon Donovan wants US player banned for life after turning down national team call-up

Back in March, Donavan called for Noahkai Banks to be banned from playing for the national team.

Banks, who plays for Augsburg in the Bundesliga, has represented the US at various youth levels - including the Under 20's, but while he was born in Honululu, Hawaii, Banks is also eligible to play for Germany through his mother.

Ahead of fixtures against Belgium and Portugal in April, he was invited to be part of their squad and training camp by Mauricio Pochettino. However, the 19-year-old turned down the call-up because he was unsure about where his international future lies.

Donovan believes Banks ought to be blacklisted from selection if he is unable to commit at this stage.

"From the federation’s standpoint, and particularly Matt Crocker, who makes these decisions, if someone does not want to play for your country, good riddance," Donovan said on the Unfiltered Soccer podcast.

"Goodbye. And I’m not mad at him. He can make his decision. But now, I don’t care about you anymore. I don’t."

Donavan added: "I don’t care about Noahkai - if he does not wanna play for the U.S., totally fine. I get it. If he feels more German, I’ve always said, make the decision where you’re passionate. "Clearly, if he wanted to be a part of the U.S. team - he’s been in many camps, Tim. He’s been in camps. He’s been in youth camps. The federation has been on him for a long time. And this whole notion of us, like, begging him to play for our country is bulls***."