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Like you, Grant, I will remember Reyna for his spectacular run against Mexico in 2002 -- and who can forget his near-goal from midfield on a volley against Germany in the ensuing match? Reyna played at the highest level in college, the pros and on the World Cup stage. To me, he must be considered the greatest U.S. player this country has produced.

Ron Starner
Atlanta, GA

I will remember Reyna as a holding mildfielder, who couldn't do much more than that--hold the ball and make the safe, occasionally creative pass. He had one memorable 40 yard run which is negated by his gift to Ghana last world Cup. He was not a force on offense, was mediocre on defense, and was prone to injury. He showed composure on the ball but his play never seemed to be very inspiring. I would be interested to see how he compares statistically (assists, goals, etc.) against some of the other U.S. greats. I wouldn't be surprised if he, if taken on a games played basis, stacked up pretty low against the others.

Noel11, you are spot on with what you said. He's nothing but a holding mid that couldn't do much and got hurt all the time. Not too sad to see him go, I just can't wait to see who replaces him.

Amen. Reyna is over-glorified and a huge liability in the center midfield given that he didn't win many challenges and couldn't help defensively. Whatever offensive prowess "experts" want to credit him with isn't good enough to offset that.

Unfortunately, we're still stuck with a player in a similar mold....golden boy Donovan. Knock out all his penalty kicks and what are you left with?

I also remember that 2002 World Cup and the German "hand ball" in goal that prevent us from advancing leaving a huge empyt feeling in my gut. Reyna was amazing and was the soul of that team but my man McBride was the Heartbeat!

Bobby Burger
Livermore, CA

I also remember that 2002 World Cup and the German "hand ball" in goal that prevent us from advancing leaving a huge empyt feeling in my gut. Reyna was amazing and was the soul of that team but my man McBride was the Heartbeat!

Bobby Burger
Livermore, CA

If you needed a nice, safe back-pass, Reyna was your guy,

I think if you knock out all Landon's PKs he is the youngest American player to 30 goals, and still the all time assist leader.

The evening of the U.S.-England game a couple months ago (was it that long, already?) I was sitting in the lobby of my hotel checking my e-mail. A Scottish man was next to me and saw me wearing the U.S. jersey. He tells me he's a Rangers fan and first thought I didn't know that Reyna played there. Once I said that Damarcus Beasley plays there, he proceeded to tell me about how much he loved Reyna.

Yes, I remember that game against Mexico, watching it on my tiny TV in my bedroom early in the morning. But when someone says that, it means that Reyna was better than I ever really knew.

I think he's the finest midfielder the US has produced

In 1992, in a game at the University of Richmond, I saw Claudio play a ball roughly from touchline to touchline and forward about 20- 25 yards. It dropped softly at the feet of his winger. It was struck with pace yet fell weightlessly. It completely changed the shape of the attack. It was such a lovely pass -- an international level ball, which our current national team midfielders routinely struggle to hit.

Safe balls? Yes. Of course. That is what good players play much of the time. But to suggest that Claudio could only play safely is just not fair IMO. For me, the man had great vision, lovely touch and a wonderful sense of how to pace a team. If anything, his biggest problem is that somehow we expect our best player to be the best in the world. He probably fell short of unreasonable expectations.

The finest field player the U.S. has ever produced doesn't amount to much more than saying John Smith (former Patriots kicker) is the finest NFL player England has ever produced. Outside of Donovan I can't remember being so underwhelmed by someone with such a large reputation

Say what you want about his ability. Like or dislike his playing style...the man is a GOD at the Ibrox! No other American can say that!!

I went to work in Glasgow and although I am a Celtic fan, the few Rangers fan that I chatted with still talk about this guy.

Claudio legacy is already set in Scotland and throughout the SPL.

I'm going to out myself as a freak for remembering this but ...

1. Go to the Feb. 25, 1991 issue of SI on the Vault:

http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/cover/featured/9265 /index.htm

2. Click "View This Issue"

3. Scroll to p. 34

All good things must come to an end. Yes Claudio had a few memorable bad moments in his career, but someone who "only plays it safe" would not last 13 years in Europe and achieve 112 international caps. He was one of the best players the US has ever produced (maybe the best field player) and should be remembered as a quality midfielder with deft passing abilities, the ability to control the pace of the game and generally someone who made all the other players around him look better. His understated playing style didn't make him flashy and highlight worthy- but his abilities to read the game and make the right pass at the right time to the right person is not a quality many players possess.

Thank you Claudio for everything you've done and we hope you'll help improve US soccer.

To all fans- take 15 minutes and re-read his bio- its impressive: http://ussoccer.com/bio/index.jsp_78461.html

To the naysayers, you want to bash Reyna and Donovan as over hyped players, but they are still the best and most consistent field players the US has ever produced. Reyna struggled the last few years, but let's not forget the years where he shined. He represented the US very well for over a decade on in the world's best leagues. Give the man his due.

Hopefully Reyna's legacy isn't ruined by Bruce Arena's arrogance to bring him to MLS and overpay him mightily.

Reyna should have hung 'em up after ManCity and worked on becoming an ambassador for the game in the US.

For all those who would consider Reyna an overrated player, they had best consider the run Spain had in this past European championship with the excellent Xavi as the catalyst for the Spanish attack. Xavi is of the mold of player who makes the simple square pass, knows when to change the direction of play and controls the tempo of the game. Admittedly, Xavi is more talented than Reyna, but Reyna is as close as the US has ever had to that type of player. It's a pity we haven't produced more players like him.

Unfortunately, our final memories of Claudio's excellence are clouded by the Ghana gaff and the injury-plagued tenure with MLS. He remains the only US player voted to the World Cup Best XI, and accomplishment which on it's own solidfies Reyna's stature as one of the best field players in the history of US Soccer.

All you smack-talking parvenus are either too young or too stupid to recognize Reyna's unique contributions to American soccer. Yes, unquestionably there has been his spiraling descent in these latter years--age and chronic injury to blame.

I also have my own memory of Reyna crystallized from the June 4, 1994 friendly against Mexico. As a relative unknown and brash 20-yr-old, he came on as a center mid--attacking or holding I have no idea, and proceeded to single-handedly dissect a formidable Mexican midfield and defense. It was sheer art in motion.

Those of you too tender in years to remember, before the advent of the Reynas and Ramos', the USMNT simultaneously used to be CONCACAF's weak sister and whipping boy. Not only were they regularly beaten, they were frequently humiliated.

The US squad was comprised of college kids "naturalized" citizens from soccer-playing countries, and MISL players. Don't take my word for it. Go back and look at the US rosters in the '90 and '94 World Cup campaigns.

Because of the likes of Reyna, the US has come a long, long way in a few decades.

Thanks Claudio. You're a class act.