Benny Feilhaber
A technically gifted midfielder whose spectacular volley for the US national team cemented his place in American soccer folklore.
Born 1985 (age 41)·Soccer coach and former professional player·Birthday: January 19·Millennials
Biography
Benny Feilhaber's career was a transcontinental tapestry, beginning in Rio de Janeiro and finding its defining moments in the white and blue of the United States. Discovered at UCLA, his elegant touch and vision stood out in an American soccer landscape often prioritizing athleticism. His professional journey took him from Germany's Hamburg SV to England's Derby County, Denmark, and finally Major League Soccer, where he became a creative hub for Sporting Kansas City and LAFC. While he won domestic cups, his legacy was sealed in a single, breathtaking instant: the dipping, championship-winning volley against Mexico in the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup final. That goal, a moment of pure technical audacity, made him a national team hero. After retiring, he smoothly transitioned into coaching, aiming to impart his sophisticated understanding of the game to a new generation.
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.
Benny was born in 1985, 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 Benny Was Born
The biggest hits of 1985
#1 Movie
Back to the Future
Best Picture
Out of Africa
#1 TV Show
Dynasty
Benny's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1985Born
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1990Started school
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1998Became a teenager
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Could drive
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2003Could vote
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Turned 21
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2015Turned 30
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 40
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 41 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Scored the spectacular game-winning volley for the USA in the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup final against Mexico.
- Won the 2013 MLS Cup and the 2012, 2015, and 2017 U.S. Open Cups with Sporting Kansas City and LAFC.
- Earned 44 caps for the United States men's national soccer team between 2007 and 2017.
- Played in the UEFA Champions League for Danish club AGF Aarhus during a loan spell.
Did You Know?
He holds citizenship in the United States, Brazil, and Austria through his parents.
He was named the MVP of the 2006 NCAA College Cup while playing for UCLA.
His first professional goal was for Hamburg SV in a German Cup match.
He speaks fluent English, Portuguese, and German.
“The game is about making the right pass at the right moment, nothing more and nothing less.”
