(CNN) -- Landon Donovan, the greatest scorer in American men's soccer history and one of the players who helped raise the profile of the game in the United States, will retire after the MLS season. The Los Angeles Galaxy star told reporters in Los Angeles on Thursday that he doesn't have the same passion for the game that he had when he began playing professionally as a teenager. He said he made his final decision to leave the game about two weeks ago. "It's bittersweet for me," he said. "There is some sadness. I'm also equally excited for what's to come. As most of you know, I've been doing this for quite a long time."
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NEW: U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann says Donovan was 'fantastic example'
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Landon Donovan says he is sad, but excited for next phase in life
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He scored 57 goals for the USA, including a memorable one in the 2010 World Cup
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The 32-year-old says he'll still be connected to the game
"I feel incredibly blessed and lucky to have played a role in the remarkable growth of @placeholder and U.S. Soccer during my playing career," he wrote Thursday.