Get ready for the 2026 World Cup by voting for US soccer's GOAT

Let’s get this out of the way: United States history with “the beautiful game” was pretty ugly until American soccer’s surge in the 1990s.

The U.S. Men’s National Team has never won an Olympic medal in soccer, and you have to look all the way back to the first World Cup – in 1930 – for the men’s best finish of third.

Fast forward 61 years, to when women’s soccer finally got its international stage with the first Women’s World Cup. A U.S. victory behind Michelle Akers’ 10 goals was the first of four Women’s World Cup victories for America.

The U.S. women would have to wait five more years for their Olympic moment, but they again made good with a gold-medal finish in 1996. It was the first of five gold medals for the U.S. women, who have medaled in seven of eight Olympic tournaments.

1930– Uruguay defeats Argentina 4-2 in the first World Cup event held in Uruguay.

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1930– Uruguay defeats Argentina 4-2 in the first World Cup event held in Uruguay.

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1934– Italy over Czechoslovakia 2-1.

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1938– Italy defeats Hungary 4-2. The World Cup would not be played again until 1950 because of the Second World War.

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1950– Uruguay wins it’s second World Cup with a 2-1 win over Brazil.

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1954– Germany wins 3-2 over Hungary.

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1958– Brazil celebrates by running with the flag of Sweden after defeating them 5-2.

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1962– Brazil 3-1 over Czechoslovakia.

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1966– England defeats Germany 4-2 in England.

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1970– Brazil wins 4-1 over Italy in Mexico.

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1974– Germany wins at home in Munich over Netherlands, 2-1.

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1978– Argentina wins it’s first World Cup 3-1 over Netherlands in Argentina.

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1982– Italy wins it’s third championship over Germany 3-1.

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1986– Argentina wins over Germany 3-2.

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1990– Germany gets revenge on Argentina 1-0.

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1994– Brazil defeats Italy 3-2 in penalties in Pasadena, Calif.

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1998– France wins it’s first cup over Brazil, 3-0.

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2006– Italy beats France 5-3 in penalties.

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2010– Spain defeats Netherlands 1-0 in South Africa.

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2022– Argentina wins it’s third World Cup defeating France 4-2 in penalties.

With that context, you’ll notice a recency bias in our list of the top soccer players in U.S. history. From recent Olympians and MLS pioneers, to the trailblazing women who have defined excellence in American soccer, you’ll probably recognize a lot of these names.

Visit USA TODAY on June 10 to see what our experts have to say about the top U.S. soccer stars of all time. Until then, weigh in on your GOAT picks below, add your sleeper suggestion for the list, or shout about the most obvious omission you see.

With this celebration of America’s top sports figures, we’re featuring these athletes and the high schools they graduated from – or hometowns for those who took an alternate path to sports stardom.

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Starting the week of April 20, USA TODAY will produce weekly lists of the top American athletes, followed by a poll for readers to vote on nominees for the next week’s list. Here’s a look at the full schedule, leading up to a special interactive experience surrounding the top 250 athletes in American history:

Week of April 27: Women’s basketball

Week of June 22: Swimming, diving and gymnastics

Week of June 29: Pioneers, leaders and innovators