Why Messi is the American Secret Weapon for 2026 World Cup Glory

When Lionel Messi stepped off that plane in Miami, I'll admit—I had mixed feelings. The greatest player of all time choosing MLS for his twilight years? Was this a retirement tour or something more? But as an absolute diehard USMNT supporter counting down the days until we host the 2026 World Cup, I've come to realize something incredible: Messi isn't just good for MLS. He might be the best thing that's ever happened to American soccer, and our boys in red, white, and blue are the ultimate beneficiaries.

The Messi Effect: More Than Just Goals and Highlights

Let's talk numbers for a second. Since Messi arrived at Inter Miami, MLS viewership has absolutely exploded. We're talking record-breaking TV ratings, sold-out stadiums from coast to coast, and a level of international attention that American soccer has been desperately chasing for decades. When the world's best player chooses your league, suddenly everyone's watching. And when everyone's watching, the money follows.

This isn't just about one team or one superstar—it's about transforming the entire ecosystem of American soccer. The increased revenue from broadcasting deals, sponsorships, and ticket sales is flowing into every MLS franchise. That means better training facilities, improved youth academies, and most importantly, the financial muscle to attract genuine world-class talent who can elevate our domestic players every single day in training.

Building a Pipeline: How Better Competition Creates Better Americans

Here's where it gets really exciting for us USMNT fans. When MLS can recruit top-tier international players, our American guys aren't just competing against them—they're learning from them. Think about young American talents like Diego Luna, Cade Cowell, and Benjamin Cremaschi training alongside and against players who've competed at the absolute highest level. That's invaluable experience you simply cannot replicate in a classroom or through video analysis.

The presence of elite talent raises everyone's game. Our domestic players are forced to adapt, to think faster, to execute with more precision. It's like having a world-class training camp running 365 days a year across the entire league. As MLS continues to invest in talent thanks to the Messi-driven boom, that competitive environment only intensifies, creating a virtuous cycle of development.

The Investment Tsunami: Money Talks, Champions Walk

Let's be real—professional sports run on investment, and Messi has opened the floodgates. Major brands that previously overlooked MLS are now scrambling for partnerships. Apple's massive streaming deal has transformed how fans engage with the league globally. Stadiums are being renovated and expanded. Most crucially for 2026, youth development programs are receiving unprecedented funding.

This matters because the pathway from youth academy to professional contract to national team call-up is becoming smoother and more accessible than ever before. When clubs can invest properly in scouting and development, talented kids from every corner of America get discovered and nurtured. We're not just relying on the traditional soccer hotbeds anymore—we're building a truly national talent pool. And as fans look toward future competitions, many are exploring opportunities for sport betting to engage even more deeply with the beautiful game.

The Credibility Factor: MLS as a Legitimate Destination

Perhaps Messi's most underrated contribution is legitimacy. For years, European-based players viewed MLS as a retirement league or a stepping stone at best. But when an eight-time Ballon d'Or winner in his prime competitive years chooses MLS, that narrative shatters. Suddenly, talented South American and European players in their mid-twenties see MLS as a viable career move, not a career end.

This credibility shift is already bearing fruit. We're seeing younger, hungrier international signings who want to compete for titles and championships, not just collect paychecks. That competitive intensity transforms MLS from a comfortable landing spot into a genuinely challenging league—exactly the kind of environment that forges championship-caliber national team players.

2026: Perfect Timing for Perfect Glory

Here's what gets me absolutely pumped: the timing couldn't be more perfect. The 2026 World Cup isn't just any tournament—it's happening right here in our backyard during America's 250th birthday celebration. Can you imagine a more iconic moment than the USMNT lifting the trophy on home soil during our Semiquincentennial?

Thanks to the Messi effect accelerating MLS development, our 2026 squad will be the most prepared, most experienced, and most talented group we've ever fielded. Players like Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Tyler Adams will be hitting their absolute prime, backed by a new generation of MLS-developed stars who've been training in an elite environment. The foundation Messi helped build will manifest in real World Cup success.

The beautiful game has given America an incredible gift in Lionel Messi, and smart money says we'll repay that gift with our best-ever World Cup performance when it matters most—in front of our home fans, in our home stadiums, at the most significant moment in American history since 1976. Let's make 2026 unforgettable.

Can Italy Miss the World Cup for a Third Consecutive Time?

The last time Italy played in a World Cup, they won it. That was 2006. They attended 2010 and 2014, accomplishing nothing of note in either, and then failed to show up to the next 2 altogether.

A 4-time world champion was reduced to watching from home while nations with a fraction of their football history competed. It happened in 2018. It happened again in 2022. And now, with the 2026 tournament approaching, Italy finds itself in the playoffs for a third straight qualifying cycle, staring at the same trapdoor that swallowed them twice before. The situation is familiar in a way that should unsettle anyone wearing an Azzurri shirt.

How Italy Ended Up Here Again

Italy finished second in Group I of UEFA’s qualifying round, behind Norway. They collected 18 points across the group, winning 6 matches but losing twice to Norway. That second-place finish meant they could not book a direct ticket to the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Instead, they were funneled into the playoff bracket, a place that has brought them nothing but misery in recent years.

In 2017, Sweden knocked Italy out over 2 legs in the playoff round, and the Azzurri missed the 2018 World Cup in Russia. It was the first time since 1958 that Italy had failed to qualify. Then, in March 2022, North Macedonia beat them 1-0 in the playoff semi-finals. A single goal from a country with a population smaller than Rome kept the reigning European champions out of Qatar. The defeats were different in character but identical in outcome.

The Playoff Draw and What It Means

Italy will host Northern Ireland on March 26 in a single-legged semi-final at Bergamo. There is no return leg, no aggregate scoreline to fall back on. One match, one result. If Italy wins, they travel away to face the winner of Wales versus Bosnia and Herzegovina on March 31 in the playoff final.

The single-leg format is worth paying attention to. It compresses the margin for error into 90 minutes. North Macedonia proved in 2022 that anything can happen in that kind of setup. Italy was at home that night too, and it did not save them.

Gattuso’s Preparations and Squad Building

Gennaro Gattuso took over the national team with this playoff as his first real test. Reports indicate he has been traveling to meet with key players ahead of the March window. He and Gianluigi Buffon, now serving in a team ambassador or advisory role, reportedly sat down with Marco Verratti to discuss a potential return to the squad.

Gattuso has also visited Gianluigi Donnarumma and Sandro Tonali in England, as well as Mateo Retegui in Saudi Arabia.

These meetings suggest that Gattuso is treating the playoffs with the urgency they deserve. The squad he selects will tell us a lot about his priorities, specifically how much he values veteran presence against Northern Ireland versus younger legs who might carry the team through both rounds if they advance.

Where the Betting Lines Sit for Italy’s Playoff Path

Sportsbooks have priced Italy as heavy favorites to beat Northern Ireland, with ESPN listing them at -320 on the moneyline. DraftKings and BetMGM both offer outright World Cup odds of +3000 and +3300 on Italy to win the tournament, placing them well behind favorites like France, Argentina, and England. Those numbers tell you bookmakers expect Italy to qualify, but see them as long shots beyond that.

Playoff Path A odds sit at 1.53 for Italy to advance through both rounds. Wales and Bosnia and Herzegovina remain as possible final opponents if Italy gets past Bergamo.

What Happens If They Get Through

Should Italy qualify, they land in Group B at the 2026 World Cup alongside Canada, Qatar, and Switzerland. On paper, that group looks manageable for a team of Italy’s pedigree, though pedigree has proven to be an unreliable predictor in their case lately.

The +3000 and +3300 odds to win the tournament outright show where the market thinks Italy sits among the contenders. They are not considered serious threats to win the whole thing. Getting there would be the first real achievement for this generation.

Why Northern Ireland Should Not Be Underestimated

Northern Ireland earned their playoff spot through the Nations League after finishing third in Group A behind Germany and Slovakia. Their squad is made up almost entirely of lower-division English league players, with Conor Bradley at Liverpool being the notable exception. On paper, they have no business being in this conversation. But Michael O’Neill has called this group young and fearless, and that description should sound familiar.

The history between these two teams adds an uncomfortable footnote. Northern Ireland beat Italy 2-1 in Belfast in January 1958 and knocked them out of that year’s World Cup. Their most recent meeting was a 0-0 draw in Belfast in November 2021, a result that helped push Italy into the very playoff round where North Macedonia eliminated them.

Northern Ireland has not qualified for a World Cup since 1986, and they have nothing to lose. Italy, on the other hand, has everything to lose, and recent history says that imbalance tends to work against it.

The Real Question

Can Italy miss the World Cup for a third straight time? Yes. The probability is low according to betting markets, but the probability was low the last 2 times as well. Italy were the favorites against Sweden in 2017. They were heavy favorites against North Macedonia in 2022. Favorites lose in football. It happens with enough regularity that the word “favorite” comes with an asterisk in knockout rounds.

Northern Ireland is a significant underdog at +900. They are not expected to win. But expectation and outcome have parted ways for Italy before, and the Azzurri know better than anyone that qualification is earned on the pitch, not on a betting slip. March 26 in Bergamo will answer the question one way or the other.

America's 100 Greatest Goalkeepers (81-90)

These goalkeepers are part of a bigger project, which you can find here. Pictures of the goalkeepers were posted when available. Newspaper clippings’ date and newspaper are found in the file name. Click on the photo galleries to enlarge the picture to read more about the goalkeeper.

81. Tom Presthus

The drive from Minnesota to Texas isn’t a short one but it was one Tom Presthus made to kickstart his collegiate career at Southern Methodist University. Hailing from Edina, Minnesota, Presthus quickly established himself as a standout goalkeeper with the Mustangs. In Presthus’ junior year, SMU received a two-seed entering in the national tournament before losing out to eventual winners, Wisconsin, in the Elite Eight. But Presthus had put himself on national radars.

Upon graduating, DC United picked up Presthus with the 20th pick of the 1997 draft and quickly the Minnesotan gathered his footing, starting seven games his rookie season and becoming the hero of the penalty shootout against New England in the quarterfinal playoff matchup. The following season, head coach Bruce Arena made a late-season switch to put Tom Presthus in goal over Scott Garlick, and the call paid off with the young goalkeeper leading the team to the final. Although the final was a 2-0 loss to the Chicago Fire, refs would later admit they missed a crucial offside call on one of the goals, casting a large “what if” over the final score.

Looking to avenge a sour final, Presthus and DC United came back strong in 1999. Riding high, Presthus notched his lone cap with the national team in February before starting a dominant run in MLS play that year, winning the Supporters’ Shield and capturing a 2-0 win over the Galaxy in the MLS Cup final.

Unfortunately, the good times did not last long in DC as the team failed to make the playoffs the following year. As the franchise entered a rebuild mode, Presthus was traded to Columbus before the 2001 season, where Presthus would face a young upstart goalkeeper named Jon Busch. In 2002, Presthus lost the starting spot to Busch and “rather than sulking, Presthus supported and mentored Busch, who backstopped Columbus to the 2002 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup championship that year.” After the 2003 season, Presthus would retire due to a lingering elbow injury.

From 1998 to 2001, Presthus played in two MLS Cup finals, was capped by the national team, won two MLS Supporters’ Shields, was named an MLS All-Star, and was a finalist for MLS’s Goalkeeper of the Year award twice. Unfortunately, stacking injuries and limited professional opportunities forced the 28-year-old’s hand to call it quits heading into the 2004 season. For newer MLS fans, Tom Presthus’ career is often overlooked but the SMU alum is a great example of a goalkeeper who was a top goalkeeping prospect before injuries derailed his momentum, denying fans a chance to see Presthus’ true ceiling.


82. Ian Feuer

Before skipping college to go play in Europe was ever a conversation, Feuer did just that and was an early pioneer for American goalkeepers proving they can play abroad. Standing at an imposing 6'7", Feuer left the States at 16 to join Club Brugge in 1989. While Feuer was a reserve in the Belgian league, the Las Vegas native was called up to the 1992 Olympic team as a backup to Brad Friedel and earned a cap with the senior national team in the same year. As limited opportunity stunted his time overseas, Feuer returned to the US in 1993 to earn Rookie of the Year honors for the Los Angeles Salsa in MLS precursor, the APSL.

Feuer used this success to bounce back across the pond, this time with West Ham United and then a loan-turned-permanent move to Luton Town. After years of finally grinding in the trenches, Feuer was given the reigns at Luton Town, a second tier English club, only to have a first row seat to the Hatters relegation in 1996. Despite Luton Town’s sub 1-goal a game scoring average, Feuer was hailed as the player of the season and retained his starting spot for the 1996-97 season, where the team would narrowly miss promotion, finishing third in the table.

Feuer’s 90 game starting streak with Luton Town was broken in the 1997-98 when inconsistent play and a muscle tear in his shoulder led to his return to the US. Over the next few years Feuer would make multiple attempts to catch on with an English club but ultimately retired in 2002, but not before ultimately appearing in the English Premier League with West Ham in April of 2000.

Feuer isn’t just remembered for his imposing height, which granted massive save capabilities, but his continued efforts helped garner confidence in English managers and owners to bring in more American goalkeepers after Feuer proved Americans could handle England’s physical and unforgiving game.


83. Don Malinowski

Off the heels of a strong showing at the 1950 World Cup, the federation did very little to capitalize off the national team's success, with the embarrassing 8-0 loss in the 1952 Olympics being a sign of more to come, as the national team wouldn’t crack the world’s top fifty until the mid 1980’s, leaving goalkeepers like Don “Pug” Malinowski left with little to build off of. Although Don “Pug” Malinowski was named a backup to the 1952 Olympic squad, it was stateside where he shined brightest. Malinowski and the Harmville Hurricanes won the National Challenge Cup in 1952 and 1956, as Malinowski would also take the Hurricanes to the semifinals in ‘53 and ‘57, with a brief effort with Castle Shannon reaching the 1954 semifinal as well. With his team’s success giving him a foundation to showcase his own skills, Malinowski was routinely referred to as one of if not the best goalkeeper in the country throughout the 50’s.

In January of 1954, Malinowski joined the national team for their World Cup qualifying, while the US federation had seemingly self-sabotaged their World Cup chances. The federation agreed to play the home-and-home matches exclusively in Mexico, complained about FIFA’s new rules for only allowing fully fledged citizens on the field, scheduled for the senior team to arrive a day before their first match against Mexico, and only organized two international matches in the 3.5 years since the 1950 win over England.

With the USSFA’s secretary JJ Barriskill openly announcing "We seem to have little chance [against Mexico]", the US unsurprisingly dropped the first match against Mexico, 4-0 and effectively were knocked from World Cup contention in just the one game. For the second game, Malinowski started over Frank Borghi in the second game against Mexico and earned much praise for his efforts in the 3-1 loss.

After a 1955 friendly against Iceland, Malinowski was relegated to the alternate goalkeeper for the 1956 Olympic team, which was met to outrage to various outlets, and his time with the national team ended there. Malinowski kept his amateur status his entire career, trying out for the Olympic team one more time in 1960, and was a real hometown hero. Reportedly known for making friends with fans during the game, he was characterized as a good-natured, fun-loving goalkeeper who would do whatever it took to keep the ball out of the net.


84. Walter Romanowicz

Romanowciz reached the National Challenge Cup semifinals three times with Ponta Delgada, winning the prestigious tournament in 1947. Alongside these efforts, Romanowciz retained his amateur status and won the National Amateur Cup three years in a row (1946-48). With Romanowciz and Ponta Delgada winning the rare double in 1947, Romanowciz was propelled to the national team for the two-game 1947 NAFC Championship tournament. Although the US would lose both matches, Romanowciz would continue to be requested back to the national team as far as 1950. Ahead of the iconic 1950 World Cup matchup against England, it was Walter Romanowciz, not Frank Borghi. Bill Graham wrote for the Brooklyn Eagle in August of 1949, “For the first time in many years there is doubt about the goalie who will cop the place on the team. Walter Romanowicz of Ponta Delgada F.C. of Fall River is the first selection but can’t get away from business. This is the one position that America could formerly challenge the world to produce a better.”

Although a brief tenure with the national team and club soccer as a whole, Romanowciz was a quiet pillar in the post-war era, when American soccer was largely backed by ethnic clubs punching above their weight and players who balanced a playing career without the financial resources that today’s players receive.


85. Dan Kennedy

A four-year starter at UC Santa Barbara, Kennedy ended his standout college career falling short to the Indiana Hoosiers in the 2004 NCAA final, losing out on penalties in his final game after being subbed out for penalty specialist Kyle Reynish. Another door would soon close after Kennedy was drafted by Chivas USA a few months later but ultimately not signed by the California team, leading Kennedy to continue to wait for an MLS team to pick him up, or try his hand elsewhere.

Kennedy’s independence was rewarded with the USL Rookie of the Year award in 2005 for standout play with the Puerto Rico Islanders, where he would play for two years before heading south to Chile for a season. Kennedy would eventually make his way back to Chivas USA in 2008 but, once again, a door closed after untimely injuries derailed his return, as well as a national team call-up in the winter of 2008-09 getting rescinded. Regardless, Kennedy continued pushing forward and in 2012 he finished third for the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award, establishing himself as one of the best not only in MLS, but for all American goalkeepers.

Kennedy wowed fans with his quick reactions, backed by his Hispanic-influenced goalkeeping style. His hyper-mobile approach, as opposed to English-inspired set positions, made him bet on his ability to gain advantages through aggressive, front-footed defensive actions. Kennedy’s career isn’t littered with yearly awards - as even his best season in 2012 was on the worst team in MLS - yet his determination to not let a closed door define him ended up defining his career in the best way possible.

86. Charley LaBarge

Over the course of the 1920’s and 30’s, LaBarge quickly made a name for himself inside St. Louis’ soccer circles as a promising young goalkeeper. LaBarge joined Vesper Buick ahead of the 1924 National Challenge Cup and elevated himself into a star player before the club even arrived at the final. Despite the 4-2 loss in the final, Indiana Flooring manager Ernest Viberg said that LaBarge and Dave Barnett’s goalkeeping talent “surpassed anything we have seen in the American Soccer League.”

LaBarge would continually shine in the National Challenge Cup, returning to finals three more times, in 1929, 1932, and 1933, the last two with Stix, Baer, and Fuller. Unfortunately, LaBarge’s career was marred by injuries and much speculation arose on whether he had any talent later in his career. In 1932, Herman Wecke wrote that “At the start of the season, LaBarge was supposed to be ‘all washed up’. But apparently he has taken a new lease on life,” praising the goalkeeper for outstanding recent performances and decision-making in goal.

The road to capturing the Cup in 1933 was no easy task for LaBarge. Less than a week before the final, LaBarge was released from the club for “the welfare of the club” over financial disputes but was oddly reinstated just days later. LaBarge was tight-lipped about the specifics of the affair and set his sights on finally capturing the elusive trophy. The first of the two-legged was a shutout by LaBarge but the St. Louis goalkeeper received a concussion from a blow to the head, leaving his status for the second match in question. LaBarge was ultimately cleared to play by doctors, conceding only one goal against the strong ASL representative, the New York Americans, and finally winning the National Challenge Cup.

Alongside David Barnett and Charles McGarry, LaBarge was inducted as one of the first goalkeepers into St. Louis’ prestigious Soccer Hall of Fame in 1971.


87. Joe Willis

Joe Willis’ career can largely be summed up as him banging on the door until someone opened it or it fell off its hinges. Willis earned a call-up to the U20s in October of 2006 but ultimately lost out to Chris Seitz and Brian Perk being named. Willis, not one to take no for an answer, continued with a successful, yet quiet, college career. In the 2011 draft, DC United acquired Willis as a backup for Bill Hamid and despite Willis’ clear role established by DC, he would still find moments to shine. In 2012, Willis rode a seven game unbeaten streak while Hamid was with the U23s and would save a crucial penalty in the quarterfinals during the playoffs when Hamid went off with a red card.

After a trade sent Willis south to Houston, he once again had a difficult battle for the number one spot with Tyler Deric. Willis and Deric would repeatedly trade off time, although Willis would get his chances in the 2017 playoffs and the 2018 Open Cup, the latter of which he picked up his second US Open Cup trophy, this time starting in the Cup final.

After the back and forth with Houston, a trade with Nashville finally gave Willis a chance to showcase his talents. In 2021, Willis finished third in Goalkeeper of the Year voting, proving the long wait was worth it for the Denver Pioneer alum. The no-nonsense and drama-free goalkeeper enters the 2026 season ranked 7th all-time in MLS starts for a goalkeeper and has yet to let go of his starting position in his 16th year as a pro.

88. Theodore Bondi

Theodore “Ted” Bondi was the perennial multi-sport athlete and the only four time All-American goalkeeper in men’s college soccer history. In addition to being a standout goalkeeper, Bondi also found time to be on the basketball, baseball, and swimming teams at Brockport.

After graduating Brockport and earning his master’s in education at UNC, Bondi joined the Air Force and eventually returned to his hometown of Genoso, NY, where he would begin playing soccer again, as well as coach soccer, basketball, football, baseball, lacrosse, and swimming in the area. Bondi passed away in 2010 after being named in multiple Hall of Fames in the northeast and now has a memorial scholarship named after him.

Despite domestic soccer being at a very low point in the 1950s, Bondi’s untouched collegiate accomplishment and loyalty to his hometown highlight him as both the common man and an outstanding goalkeeper for his time.

Whereas goalkeepers like Brad Friedel, Tony Meola managed to dominate the college level at a time where there was no professional structure, Bondi’s accomplishments were a level above even those national team stalwarts when it comes to recognition at the collegiate level, putting the everyday sportsman into a tier of his own.

89. Bob Denton

After stints with Disston (1929-30) and Lighthouse (1931), Denton would make substantial waves for himself in 1933 after a quarterfinal finish in the National Challenge Cup with the Philadelphia German-Americans, as well as capturing the first of two back-to-back trophies in the National Amateur Cup (‘33 and ‘34). Denton would add to his trophy case with an ASL Championship in 1935 and winning the 1936 National Challenge Cup. The success with the German-Americans made Denton a mainstay in the conversation for top goalkeepers in the country during the 1930’s, whether amateur or professional.

For the 1936 Olympics, Denton earned an invite into the 17-person squad. Although Denton didn’t feature in the Olympics - starter Frank Bartkus was lauded as being the second best goalkeeper at the entire tournament after conceding only one goal to eventual champions, Italy - Denton continued his strong run in ASL play through the back part of the 30’s. A nearly career man with the Philadelphia German-Americans, Denton is one of Pennsylvania’s top goalkeepers of all time.

90. Dragan Radovich

Over the many years of college soccer’s existence, there have been many standout goalkeepers, including Randy Phillips, Skip Gilbert, Peter Mannos, Peter Arnautoff, and Ed Gettemeier. Although all these goalkeepers were standouts for a time, Radovich matched their efforts and then some. A 1978 graduate of St. Francis College, Radovich was a three-time first-team All-American goalkeeper and a first-round draft pick for the NASL’s Washington Diplomats. Radovich reached the playoffs in his rookie season but was later signed by the Timbers in 1982, before the team - and then soon after the league - both ceased operations. Radovich finished with 48 appearances in the NASL during his limited time, 11th all-time for American goalkeepers.

Despite the NASL closing its doors, Radovich’s passion for the game would not be subdued, playing wherever he could for as long as he could. In 1986, Radovich was featured in the NY Mundalito (a "Long Island version of the World Cup") while in1989, Radovich was featured in the Northeastern Super Soccer League All-Stars squad, facing off against Zalgiris Vilnius of the Soviet Union's First Division. But Radovich’s career was not without its bumps in the road. In 1989, Radovich and the Greek-Americans made it to the US Open Cup final only to fall in extra time. The following year was even more heartbreaking for Radovich, now with the Brooklyn Italians, as a soft goal by the Croatian-American ended up leading to a 2-1 loss in the final. However, in 1991, Radovich’s third trip to the final would appropriately cap off a long and winding career with a 1-0 win over the Richardson Rockets. “We kept our cool,” Radovich would say after the game.

Radovich would later go on to tackle other great feats of strength, but his career can be summed up as a goalkeeper who did everything to continue playing, regardless of each setback and hurdle placed in front of him.

Main Page
Goalkeepers 1-10
Goalkeepers 11-20
Goalkeepers 21-30
Goalkeepers 31-40
Goalkeepers 41-50
Goalkeepers 51-60
Goalkeepers 61-70
Goalkeepers 71-80
Goalkeepers 81-90
Goalkeeper 91-100
Honorable Mentions

America's 100 Greatest Goalkeepers

For 250 years, America has been a melting pot of people from all types of backgrounds living all types of lives. And for over half of that time, American goalkeepers displayed a similar variety in how they played the game, making it very difficult to precisely define an American goalkeeper. They are brave. They are athletic. They are tall. They are short. They played for the national team. They played for a team you’ve never heard of. They played three other sports. They only wanted to play goalkeeper and nothing else. They won many awards. They are a forgotten hero of a time long passed. They played college soccer. They played abroad. They grew up in the heartland of the country, waiting for their time to shine. They immigrated to the US, looking to carve their own way. And for someone, they were the best goalkeeper they’ve ever seen.

When it comes to American goalkeepers proving their worth, Steve Holroyd summed up the challenge the net minders faced when earning a chance on the field, “Americans were always frowned upon. ‘You're not wanted here. We'll take your money but let us play the game.’ But as early as the 1920s, goalkeeper was the one position that Americans were welcomed to play. And the thought was, ‘What do we do well that the rest of the world doesn't?’” In nearly every international competition - especially the ones where the US national team performed less than desired - their goalkeeper was praised as not only the highlight of the team, but as being one of the better goalkeepers in the entire tournament.

With the 2026 Men’s World Cup, 2028 Olympics, and 2031 Women’s World Cup all being hosted on American soil in the next few years, it’s time to look back and recognize the nation’s top goalkeeping from over the 150 years of play. Although the photos from old newspapers can seem so foreign, the past is still extremely relevant to today’s goalkeepers in more than one way, as this venture will prove out.

For the rankings, goalkeepers were rated on their individual skill (based on individual awards, team success, and in-person accounts), national team relevancy, club career, and overall impact on the American scene. With the ever-changing landscape over the one-and-a-half centuries, it’s important to recognize that today’s high-profile teams, leagues, and tournaments shouldn’t overshadow past events when considering our country’s lineage of goalkeepers. Without a first, there is no second to come after. For some goalkeepers, the national team wasn’t always an available option, while at other times great goalkeeping occurred in leagues and tournaments that no longer exist. Additionally, some goalkeepers had shorter careers than others (some due to injury, teams folding, or even service in the war), but their ability to represent and impact a bigger picture was taken into account when trying to slot their deserved rank.

Each goalkeeper is given a short bio on why they’re important to the story of American goalkeeping and how they connect to today’s goalkeepers. Considering the graveyard of first division soccer leagues that have come and gone over the years, goalkeepers have always faced the challenge of weighing when to move on from the game versus continuing to put their body on the line for their teammates. Although moving across the country to play for a new team may seem fairly accessible nowadays, that wasn’t always the case, which is why top goalkeepers popped up in seemingly random places when looking back throughout the decades.

But perhaps the most relatable challenge that draws a line from Dennis Shay and Lori Kats to the goalkeepers of tomorrow is through the one simple task that has always been the foundation to American goalkeepers: keep the ball out of the net.

As the biographies take time to write, they will be released in groups of ten at a later date.

Goalkeepers 1-10
Goalkeepers 11-20
Goalkeepers 21-30
Goalkeepers 31-40
Goalkeepers 41-50
Goalkeepers 51-60
Goalkeepers 61-70
Goalkeepers 71-80
Goalkeepers 81-90
Goalkeepers 91-100
Honorable Mentions

The series is dedicated to Steve Holroyd, who passed away on April 5, 2025. Steve was incredibly helpful in understanding our country’s history with the position. Steve appeared on the Everybody Soccer podcast multiple times, often at the drop of a hat and for extended, lengthy conversations. The most recent episode was aptly centered on the very beginnings of American goalkeeper. Steve’s selfless attitude, inquisitive mind, and countless hours spent digging into American soccer history will be a constant building block for many generations to come.