Minutes after the United States’s historic victory versus Algeria Wednesday in the World Cup, ESPN reporter Jeremy Schapp interviewed Landon Donovan. And before the interview could even start, Donovan covered his eyes as he cried tears of joy at an incredible late win to send the US team through to the next round.

As if the shot of Donovan crying couldn’t have been more beautiful, Donovan did one better by answering the question about Clint Dempsey’s disallowed goal. Instead of using anger, he answered the question quite poetically by saying “Like I said last week, we embody what Americans are about.”

Today showed Donovan’s skill as a professional and as an athlete. This is an athlete that Americans can get behind and believe in, whether they’re soccer fans or not.