Landon Donovan explains his support for Mexico: 'I knew Necaxa before Manchester United'

Landon Donovan, a figure often seen as an antagonist in the US-Mexico soccer rivalry, has revealed the deep roots of his affection for Mexico, stating that he knew the Mexican club Necaxa before he knew Manchester United. The former US national team star, who scored the decisive goal in the US's 2002 World Cup victory over Mexico, explained his long-standing support for 'El Tri'.

Donovan, who retired from professional soccer in León, Mexico, shared in a recent interview with USA Today Sports that approximately 96 percent of his childhood friends were of Mexican descent. His early football experiences were shaped by playing alongside Mexican immigrants, leading to a unique connection with Mexican culture and sports.

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96 percent of my childhood friends were Mexican. I knew Necaxa before I knew Manchester United. That is my reality, and that is why I also support Mexico doing well... except when they play against us.

"That is my reality, and that is why I also support Mexico doing well... except when they play against us," the historic US forward admitted. This sentiment was previously highlighted in a 2018 commercial where Donovan, wearing a scarf that read 'my other team is Mexico,' encouraged Americans to support the Mexican national team when the US failed to qualify for the World Cup.

Reflecting on the 2002 World Cup match, Donovan recounted a vivid memory of celebrating the US victory. As their team bus left the stadium, it coincidentally stopped alongside the dejected Mexican team's bus at a traffic light. Donovan described the scene of his teammates celebrating exuberantly, banging on the windows, while the Mexican players were visibly devastated.

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While we were leaving the stadium, all the cars and all the traffic had disappeared and we stopped at a traffic light with our bus. And, by fate, just as we stopped, the Mexican national team bus stopped right next to us. Someone realized it was their bus, so we looked at them and we were celebrating, jumping and hitting the windows, and the whole bus was shaking, while they felt absolutely desolate.