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Landon Donovan may be one of the most recognizable American football players of all time.
Donovan was part of the 2002 World Cup that reached the quarterfinals and helped them out of the group stage in 2010 following a disappointing 2006. He scored one of the most memorable goals in 2010 when he scored in extra time to put the US over Algeria and into the knockout stages.
With the highs that took Donovan to new fame, there were also big lows.
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Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Landon Donovan (26) plays against Orlando City FC during the second half at StubHub Center on September 11, 2016. (Gary A. Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports)
Donovan details his depression, reframing what success means to him and his amazing football career in his new book, “Landon: A Memoir,” due out Tuesday.
He opened up to Fox News Digital about his mental health issues and what depression looked like for him.
“I had two different types of depression experiences,” he said. “I realized through therapy and in retrospect that I’ve had basic depression, low-grade depression my whole life that I deal with today. So, there are days where I wake up and I just feel down and sad which is much more manageable for me now. I’ve learned how to deal with that.
“But then I’ve had three episodes in my life of really bad depressive episodes that lasted for weeks that were really hard, really hard to get out of. So, what kind of hat does it look like for me – not being able to get out of bed, not wanting to eat and just feeling like there’s a big blanket over you that you can’t get off and that’s a horrible feeling.”
The former American football star said that he has found ways to get rid of those feelings, as well as medical help.
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USA forward Landon Donovan (10) reacts after almost scoring against Antigua & Barbuda in the second half at Raymond James Stadium on June 8, 2012. (Matt Stamey/USA TODAY Sports)
“I say three Misses to me,” he explained. “Medication has helped a lot in my life. Meditation helps a lot. And then, in some cases, my mom. Just having my mom around me has helped me. And so, I’m in a period right now where, knock on wood, it’s been a long, long time since I’ve had a major depressive episode. But medication and meditation keep me calm and I’m really exercising – these are really three things right now.”
Donovan revealed that he began to struggle after the 2006 World Cup and failed to score or provide assists. He took the reins of media criticism at the time. He was also left off the 2008 Olympics roster, even though the team had a U23 roster.
The silver lining in that is that no one was going to Donovan’s MySpace page to post angry comments or death threats like the ones professional athletes are hearing now.
In that sense, Donovan told Fox News Digital that he feels “very lucky.”
“We see a lot of people in the public eye who have to deal with hate on social media, criticism, constant criticism. And all of this would have gotten worse for me if all of this had happened,” he said. “I feel very lucky for many reasons that social media didn’t exist at that time, but it’s a reality.
“People think that because we are in the public eye and we make money and we have fame and our life should be easy. And by the way, compared to someone who is struggling to put food on the table, it is easy, so I do not discount that. But it is difficult sometimes to deal with that. We are human, as humans, social creatures. And we all want to be open to your normal screen. day, your phone or your computer, and reading people who look down on you, it is very difficult for people And sadly, we have seen it take many lives.
Donovan retired from football as one of the greatest players Major League Soccer has ever seen. He helped the US to four Gold Cup titles and the LA Galaxy to four MLS Cups.
Success in 2026 versus 2006 looks a little different for Donovan right now.
LA Galaxy defender Maya Yoshida (4) and forward Landon Donovan embrace after defeating the New York Red Bulls in the 2024 MLS Cup at Dignity Health Sports Park on December 7, 2024. (Gary A. Vasquez/Images)
“Success to me now is silence,” he told Fox News Digital. “I am at peace when I am with my children. I am at peace with my wife, when we travel, when I come to play golf. Sometimes it is crazy for me to think that a child who grew up in a house of 900 square meters flies to New York, lives in the Ritz Carlton overlooking Central Park and I think back the same way? today, peace is about doing the things I love.
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“Sadly, my father is a big part of the book. He’s a big character in the whole book and he wasn’t there when he was growing up. I was able to reconcile with him when I was 25 years old, so almost 20 years ago. He died in December, and it was very eye-opening for me to be around someone as they die. You start to realize one day really, when I really exist? think about it that way, and try to think about that every day, what will really matter today, and many things that bring me peace are things that I will put my energy and effort into.
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