Landon Donovan's 3-Word Taunt Digs Up USMNT-Mexico's 25-Year Rivalry

Landon Donovan, the USMNT’s all-time top scorer, posted three words on social media that cut straight to the heart of a 25-year rivalry: “#TresACero is the new #DosACero.”

The post, according to www.si.com, was Donovan’s way of celebrating the USMNT’s 3–0 victory over Mexico on Saturday night in Arizona. In a handful of characters, he managed to enrage a large slice of Mexico’s fanbase while starting a new trend in the process.

The taunt carries weight because “Dos a Cero” is not just a scoreline—it’s a cherished USMNT tradition. Donovan’s words referenced an enmity that dates back more than a quarter of a century, one built on a habit of beating Mexico by that exact 2–0 margin.

The message was simple. The provocation was anything but.

DECODING DOS A CERO

The “Tres a Cero” reference is easy enough to decode: the U.S. won 3–0 in Arizona over the weekend. But the “Dos a Cero” tradition behind it stems from a habit the USMNT developed of beating Mexico by exactly 2–0.

The first result in that sequence came in 2001, during a World Cup qualifier. Donovan watched from the bench as goals from Josh Wolff and Earnie Stewart gave the USMNT a sweet victory against their southern neighbors.