The U.S. Men’s National Team’s performance Tuesday didn’t do much to soothe American soccer legend Landon Donovan.
Neither did the bottle.
“Currently on my second bottle of wine, still hasn’t eased the pain,” Donovan posted to X after the squad lost, 4-0, to Switzerland.
Donovan is widely regarded as the top U.S. men’s player of all-time, recording 57 goals and 58 assists across his 157 USMNT appearances.
With the legendary status he holds, it’s been hard for him to watch the current team have some of its top players, like Christian Pulisic, sit out opportunities like the Gold Cup to gain experience with the rest of the squad ahead of next year’s World Cup.
Donovan’s frustration came out on Fox’s UEFA Nations League final broadcast when he said, “I can’t help but think about our guys on vacation not wanting to play in the Gold Cup. It’s pissing me off.
“This is what it means to represent your country,” Donovan added while 40-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo led Portugal to a victory. “And if you don’t want to take this as a professional soccer player, as someone who gets the opportunity to wear that jersey and take it seriously and responsibly, then don’t come in. This is what it means.”
Donovan didn’t name any names, but Pulisic is the clear culprit as he is the USMNT’s current star and is among the players skipping the upcoming matches despite not being injured.
Pulisic is fresh off a 34-match season with AC Milan.
While Pulisic didn’t respond, he liked his father’s Instagram post calling out Donovan for doing a similar thing in 2012-13, which led to him being left off the 2014 World Cup roster.
The USMNT will have its next chance to impress fans — and Donovan — on Sunday against Trinidad and Tobago.
Until then, Donovan may need to find another vice for easing the pain if two bottles of wine didn’t do the trick.