After a draining 2012 season, Landon Donovan told the LA Galaxy and the world he needed to take a break.
The top player in MLS, coming off back-to-back MLS Cup wins, Donovan’s decision to step away for several months, citing his mental health, drew considerable reaction, positive and negative. Many rallied behind the player, who in the end missed very little time for the Galaxy on the field, but not everyone shared that sentiment.
Less than a decade later, another Galaxy star, Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, also endured a difficult year in front of the bright lights, and while he hasn’t asked for a sabbatical from his career like Donovan, there are parallels between the players, arguably the brightest stars for their respective countries for their generation.