Clint Dempsey and Brian McBride are often the first names that come to mind when fans of the United States Men’s national team talk about big-game forwards. We’ve interviewed enough supporters in and around the games of the USMNT leading up to the 2026 World Cup to know. And it’s fair enough, too. Dempsey scored in three different World Cups – no other Stars and Stripes player has – and McBride became somewhat of a cult hero in 2002 in Korea and Japan.

But neither Dempsey nor McBride is the top USMNT World Cup goalscorer.

Who is USMNT’s highest World Cup goalscorer?

The honor of knocking in the most goals at FIFA’s four-yearly showpiece tournament still belongs to Landon Donovan, who scored five times across the 2002, 2006 and 2010 tournaments, although his goals only came in two of them.

Landon Donovan still leads the USMNT World Cup scoring list

Donovan’s World Cup story began in 2002, when the United States made its famous run to the quarterfinals. He scored late on in the 3-1 defeat to Poland in the final group stage game – although a win over Portugal and draw with hosts South Korea was enough to progress – and then again against Mexico in the round of 16, securing a 2-0 win. Germany ended the run.

His other three goals came in 2010, including the unforgettable stoppage-time winner against Algeria to close out the group. That goal did not just send the U.S. through to the knockout stage (finishing top of the group that included England) but also set off emotional fireworks around every living room, bar and office in America. The team would go out to Ghana, despite Donovan’s leveller taking the game to extra time.

Dempsey, Patenaude and McBride

As already acknowledged, Dempsey finished with four World Cup goals, scoring in 2006, 2010 and 2014, while Bert Patenaude also has four, all from the 1930 tournament, including the first hat trick in World Cup history.

McBride sits next with three goals, one in 1998 and two in 2002.

So, Donovan remains the USMNT’s World Cup scoring king but there are a number of the current crop, including Christian Pulisic, who will hope to force opposition goalkeepers back into their nets to pick the ball out on numerous occasions in the coming weeks. The US faces Paraguay, Australia and Türkiye in Group D.

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