Brian McBride

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

McBride's international career began with his debut in 1993, but he missed out on the 1994 World Cup squad. He made up for it by becoming a significant player for the USMNT, earning 95 caps and scoring 30 goals. One of his most memorable moments came at the 2002 FIFA World Cup against Portugal. Playing alongside former Milwaukee Rampage teammate Tony Sanneh, the two linked up for a historic goal. Sanneh, playing right back, played a cross into the box which McBride put into the top corner. That goal showcased the chemistry they had built years earlier in the minor leagues.

In Their Own Story

The 2002 World Cup was a defining stage for McBride. In the group stage match against Portugal, the United States needed a result. McBride, playing as a forward, found himself in familiar territory. Tony Sanneh, his old teammate from the Milwaukee Rampage, was on the ball. Sanneh delivered a cross into the box, and McBride, reading the play perfectly, took a step in at the far post, lost his marker, and knocked the ball into the top corner. It was a goal that echoed their time together in the minor leagues, where McBride had scored 17 goals and added 18 assists in just 18 games. The goal helped the USMNT to a historic 3-2 victory, a turning point in a tournament that saw the team reach the quarterfinals. For McBride, it was a moment that connected his professional journey from the minor leagues to the world's biggest stage.

Reader's Guide

Brian McBride is the sixth-highest all-time leading goalscorer for the United States national team, with 30 goals in 96 caps. He made his senior international debut in 1993 but was not selected for the 1994 World Cup. His international career spanned over a decade, and he was a key figure in the team's attack. He played in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, where he scored a memorable goal against Portugal off a cross from former Milwaukee Rampage teammate Tony Sanneh. At the club level, McBride played for Columbus Crew, Fulham, and Chicago Fire. He was the first overall pick in the MLS Inaugural Draft in 1996 and scored 62 goals for Columbus Crew. At Fulham, he was named Player of the Season twice and served as team captain. The club honored him by renaming a sports bar at Craven Cottage 'McBride's' in June 2009. He also had loan spells at Preston North End and Everton in England.

Did You Know?

• McBride broke his nose in a high school playoff game but returned to score the game-winning goal.
• In his senior season of high school, McBride played goalkeeper in a regional final, stopping four of eight penalty kicks and scoring the winning goal on a counterattack.
• McBride is one of 22 college players to be part of the 40-40 club, having both 40 goals and 40 assists in his college career.
• In 2007 at Fulham, McBride had a blood clot surgically removed from his arm, which required having a rib removed.
• McBride scored his 80th career MLS goal during his final match before being substituted off to a standing ovation.