Clint Mathis
A flashy, mohawked American attacker whose record-setting scoring outbursts brought swagger and mainstream attention to early MLS.
Born 1976 (age 50)·American soccer player·Birthday: November 25·Generation X
Biography
Clint Mathis didn't just play soccer; he performed it with a rock-star bravado that Major League Soccer desperately needed in its formative years. With his distinctive mohawk and a cannon for a right foot, he became an instant sensation for the New York MetroStars. His defining moment came in 2000 when he ruthlessly dismantled the Dallas Burn, scoring five goals in a single game—an MLS record that stood for years. That explosive talent earned him a crucial role on the 2002 U.S. World Cup team, where his thunderous equalizer against South Korea remains an iconic moment in American soccer history. Mathis's career was a rollercoaster of spectacular goals, knee injuries, and fleeting brilliance across the U.S. and Germany. He was never a model of consistency, but at his peak, he was a pure, electrifying goal threat who made the sport feel thrilling and accessible to a growing American audience.
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.
Clint was born in 1976, 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 Clint Was Born
The biggest hits of 1976
#1 Movie
Rocky
Best Picture
Rocky
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Clint's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1976Born
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1981Started school
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1989Became a teenager
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Could drive
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
1994Could vote
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Turned 21
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
2006Turned 30
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
2016Turned 40
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 50
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Holds the MLS record for most goals scored in a single game, with five for the MetroStars against Dallas in 2000.
- Scored a critical 78th-minute equalizing goal for the United States in their 1-1 draw with South Korea at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
- Was named to the MLS Best XI in 2000 after scoring 16 goals and providing 14 assists.
- Played professionally in Germany's Bundesliga for Hannover 96 during the 2004-05 season.
Did You Know?
He famously celebrated his 2002 World Cup goal by mimicking a soldier's salute, a tribute to U.S. troops.
His five-goal game performance earned him a Sports Illustrated feature story.
He was known for wearing jersey number 9, but often wore 22 as a tribute to his childhood idol, hockey player Mike Bossy.
After retirement, he served as a youth soccer coach in his home state of Georgia.
“I'm here to play the game my way, with a little flair and a lot of heart.”
