Adam Moffat
A hard-tackling Scottish midfielder who became a cult hero in American soccer, known for unleashing spectacular long-range goals in MLS.
Born 1986 (age 40)·Scottish footballer·Birthday: May 15·Millennials
Biography
Adam Moffat built an unlikely but beloved career as a Scottish engine in the heart of American midfield. After modest beginnings in the lower Scottish leagues, he crossed the Atlantic and found his calling in Major League Soccer. Moffat was not a fancy player; he was a disruptor, a ball-winner with a ferocious work rate and, most memorably, a cannon of a right foot. He became famous for scoring astonishing goals from distance, thunderous strikes that would ignite crowds and become instant highlights. These moments of brilliance defined stints with the Columbus Crew, Houston Dynamo, Portland Timbers, and others, making him a favorite wherever he played. While he never won a major MLS trophy, his value was in his consistency and occasional moments of magic. Moffat's journey from the Scottish Highlands to becoming a recognizable face in U.S. soccer is a story of persistence and the unique bond a player can forge with fans through sheer force of will and a few unforgettable rockets.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Adam was born in 1986, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Adam Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Adam's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1986Born
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1991Started school
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1999Became a teenager
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Could drive
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Could vote
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Turned 21
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2016Turned 30
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 40
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Made over 150 appearances in Major League Soccer across seven seasons for five different clubs.
- Scored multiple celebrated long-range goals in MLS, including a 35-yard strike for the Houston Dynamo in 2011 that won the league's Goal of the Year award.
- Helped the Columbus Crew win the MLS Supporters' Shield in 2009 as a squad player.
Did You Know?
He attended Gryffe High School in Houston, Scotland—a town name he later represented professionally with the Houston Dynamo in MLS.
Moffat began his professional career in Scotland with Ross County and also played for Elgin City.
He played for the New York Cosmos in the NASL after his MLS career, winning the Soccer Bowl in 2016.
“I'm here to break up the play and give it to someone who can create.”
