The Bournemouth midfielder netted a scoring effort on Sunday, but it's not the best-ever in the history of this rivalry
There's nothing better than scoring against your rival, and in international soccer, there might not be better rivals than the U.S. men's national team and Mexico. It's a feud loaded with history, one filled with ebbs and flows for either side.
Right now, the USMNT is in charge. Their 2-0 win over El Tri in the CONCACAF Nations League final on Sunday confirmed it. For the past few years, the U.S. has become the region's premier team, knocking Mexico off their perch.
Sunday's game was one headlined by one of the best goals this longtime rivalry has seen. Tyler Adams' long-range missile just before halftime was stunning, and almost immediately, social media began debating its place in this rivalry's great history. Was it the best goal ever between these two teams? If not, what could it be?
Adams has earned his spot on this list, although not the top spot. Following the midfielder's stunner, GOAL has you covered with our top five USMNT goals against Mexico:
5. The Man in the Mirror
We start with an iconic goal, which isn't remembered necessarily for the quality of the finish, but the quality of the celebration.
In the leadup to a World Cup qualifier between the two rivals in 2021, Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa said that "Mexico is the mirror in which the [U.S.] wants to see itself". His words came back to bite him.
After scoring in that 2-0 win, Christian Pulisic unveiled a now famous undershirt that read "Man in the Mirror". The American star fired back at Ochoa in a big way, both with his goal and the celebration. The rivalry hasn't been quite the same since, as that game felt like a real turning point in a match-up that has become one-sided in the USMNT's favour.
AdvertisementGetty Images4. The first Dos a Cero
It's become a common scoreline now, but, back in 2002, Dos a Cero was historic. The USMNT's triumph over their local rivals in the last 16 of the 2002 World Cup truly signalled the program's arrival on the world stage. Brian McBride's eighth-minute opener really set the tone but, for the purposes of this list, we're going to go with Landon Donovan's goal in the second half.
Donovan's headed finish, and ensuing celebration, was a defining moment in USMNT history. There's a very real case that, regardless of the quality of goal, it should be tops on this list. And the fact that it isn't shows just how many memorable moments there have been in this rivalry.
3. Adams' missile
Recency bias has many throwing this goal to the top of their list. It's a fantastic one, for sure, and it's earned its place in this rivalry's history. The best we've seen, though? Not quite.
In context, Adams' goal was a massive one for the USMNT but, more importantly, it was a massive one for the midfielder. After nearly a year on the sideline, Adams needed a moment like this and, when it came, he made sure to smash it as hard as he could.
The midfielder's missile was just his second career USMNT goal. His first came against, you guessed it: Mexico. Adams probably won't score a better goal for his country, and the fact that it came against a heated rival in a cup final makes it even sweeter.
2. Feilhaber wins the Gold Cup
It was a goal that had everything, one worthy of an occasion like a cup final. Level at one apiece in the 2007 Gold Cup final, the ball found its way to Benny Feilhaber in the 73rd minute. Just 11 minutes prior, Donovan had equalized, firing the U.S. back into the game. The game, and the tournament, then fell to the feet of Feilhaber.
You don't hit a volley much sweeter. After a headed clearance from Mexico, Feilhaber rifled a shot all the way across goal, and there was no stopping it. The U.S. went on to win 2-1, with Feilhaber's goal proving a legendary decider in a memorable finale.