Carlos Ruiz (Guatemalan footballer)
A lethal finisher who became the first foreign-born MVP in Major League Soccer, carrying Guatemala's football hopes on his shoulders.
Born 1979 (age 47)·Guatemalan footballer·Birthday: September 15·Generation X
Biography
Carlos Ruiz, known as 'El Pescadito,' emerged from the youth ranks of CSD Municipal in Guatemala City to become his nation's most recognizable football export. His career exploded in the United States with the LA Galaxy, where his predatory instincts in the penalty area and knack for dramatic goals made him an instant star. In 2002, his debut MLS season, he captured the league's MVP award, a rare feat for a newcomer, and powered his team to an MLS Cup championship. Though his journey included stints across five MLS clubs and leagues worldwide, he remained the talisman for the Guatemalan national team for nearly two decades, its all-time leading scorer. His legacy is that of a pure goal-poacher whose success helped pave the way for Latin American attackers in North America's top flight.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Carlos was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Carlos Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Carlos's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the MLS Most Valuable Player award in his debut 2002 season with the LA Galaxy.
- Scored 16 postseason goals, the second-highest total in MLS history at his retirement.
- Became the all-time leading scorer for the Guatemala national football team.
- Led the LA Galaxy to the 2002 MLS Cup championship, scoring in the final.
- Notched 88 goals in 182 regular-season MLS matches across his career.
Did You Know?
His nickname 'El Pescadito' (The Little Fish) was inherited from his father, also a footballer nicknamed 'El Pescado.'
He scored the first-ever 'MLS Goal of the Year' awarded in 2003 for a spectacular volley against D.C. United.
He played in the UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds for Greek club PAOK in 2007.
He was known for a distinctive goal celebration where he would mimic reeling in a fish.
“I score goals. That is my job for the team.”
