By Nina Mandell
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — Want a Landon Donovan jersey to commemorate his miracle goal against Algeria to rescue Team USA in the World Cup? You may have to wait.
Team USA soccer gear has been flying off the shelves since the tournament began earlier this month, local stores say. At Niketown in Midtown, customizable jerseys have been so popular, there have been shortages for many of the letters in Donovan's name, according to a store employee.
The employee, who asked not to be named because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said Team USA jerseys had been sold out for days.
Still, Michelle Gaglia, a 20-year-old from Brooklyn, stopped by the East 57th Street store on her way to work to pick up some red white and blue gear.
She said she didn’t care which jersey she got, but just wanted to show her home team some love after Wednesday's win.
“I’m a big sports fan,” she said. “It’s the Olympics for soccer.”
Despite the lack of jerseys, Niketown still had Team USA track jackets and T-shirts available, including Donovan shirts.
Ross Levine said he wanted to pick up a Donovan T-shirt, but not because of the heroic goal.
“I respect his integrity and his game,” he said.
Elsewhere, stores including Paragon, Modell's and the Adidas store said they were sold out of USA jerseys but had other Team USA gear, including track suits and t-shirts, available.
At Modell's, children's jerseys were still available. As for adult jerseys, like many other stores, they had been long gone before Donovan's miracle goal.
"They were gone as soon as they hit the shelves," a store employee told DNAinfo.
Meanwhile, Donovan's fame has not only increased jersey sales, but his tabloid presence.
After announcing that he was seperating from his television star wife Bianca Kajlich last year, Donovan has been publicly reaching out to his ex. He blew her a kiss on camera after his goal and reportedly called her early Thursday morning.
People.com reported a "close source" said, "It would surprise no one if Landon and Bianca were back together very soon. They have remained in contact and are very close to one another."
