Farwell captain

Editor's note: Chase Lynn is a freshman at the University of Missouri and a former high school contributor from Dubuque Senior.

By Chase Lynn, community contributor

Just a few weeks ago, America and the rest of the world watched as the beloved Derek Jeter stepped up to home plate on a cool September night in the Bronx for one last time.

After a walk off single in front of a sold out Yankee Stadium, Jeter exited his 19-year baseball career with the New York Yankees in perhaps the best possible way.

Tonight, the sport of soccer and United States will say goodbye to yet another American sports hero. Although, Landon Donovan will not be playing his last soccer game, this will be the last time the world will see him in stars and stripes.

Donovan has recorded 57 goals over his 14 year international career with the United States. Perhaps the greatest American to ever touch a soccer ball, Donovan was capable of making things happen when the United States most needed them. In the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Donovan seemed to appear out of nowhere and score after Clint Dempsey's shot deflected off the Algerian keeper late in the 90th minute. This goal would save the U.S. from elimination and advance them to knockout stage.

What Donovan brought to the U.S. is what no American soccer player has been capable of doing, making the fans believe he was the greatest. As just a teenager Donovan helped the United States beat Portugal in the 2002 World Cup and led them to the quarterfinals, the best U.S. finish since 1930.

In 2006, the United States had high expectations for its team and Donovan. Without winning a game, the U.S. quickly excited the tournament while Donovan received majority of the criticism.

Just like every great athlete does, Donovan bounced back and shined light and hope onto the International squad. He led them to a runner-up finish in the 2009 Confederations Cup in South Africa that was highlighted with a win over future World Cup champion Spain. A year later, he returned to South Africa where the U.S. won its first group stage in more than 60 years.

Donovan always seemed to be the guy at the right place at the right time. Much like a super hero.

When Jürgen Klinsmann decided to leave Donovan off the 2014 World Cup squad, the majority of Americans were confused and angered by this decision. Our super hero would not be traveling to Brazil with one of the best American teams in years.

During the 2014 World Cup, it was hard at times to not wonder 'what if Donovan was out there?” When trailing 1-0 to powerhouse Germany, what if we had a guy like Donovan who could flip the switch when nothing seemed to be going our way? Or what if in the 93rd minute in first round of knockout stage against Belgium, the deflection off Jermain Jones head would've landed on Donovan's foot instead of Chris Wondolowski's? (Even if we has offsides) Or how about the 113th minute, trailing 2-1, with Michael Bradley taking a free kick just outside the box, what if the ball would've bounced Donovan's way instead of Dempsey's?

The guy who happens to be in the right place at the right time was sitting at home with millions of other Americans watching the U.S. fall to Belgium in Brazil.

Tonight, Donovan will step onto the pitch in East Hartford, Conn., sporting red, white and blue for one last time to take on a mediocre Ecuadorean team in a somewhat meaningless match. Much like Jeter, Donovan has nothing to play for but pride. There is no World Cup left in his career. The Yankees already were out of playoff contention when Jeter drove in the winning run to beat the Baltimore Orioles, who will be playing Game 1 of the ALCS tonight. What Jeter did was not only for himself, it was for the city New York and his fans worldwide.

As Donovan walks off the pitch for the final time tonight and new faces begin to break out on to the international scene for the United States, we will often compare them to our beloved Landon Donovan.