Edson Buddle
A powerful striker who muscled his way to over 100 MLS goals, becoming a quiet but consistent force in American soccer's attacking history.
Born 1981 (age 45)·American soccer player·Birthday: May 21·Millennials
Biography
Edson Buddle carried the weight of a famous name—bestowed by his father in honor of Pelé—and forged his own path with sheer physicality. The New York-born forward was a classic target man, using his strength and surprising aerial ability to bully defenders. His professional journey was a tour of the early MLS landscape, with notable stints at the Columbus Crew, New York Red Bulls, and LA Galaxy, where he formed a potent partnership with Landon Donovan. Buddle's career wasn't marked by flashy international acclaim but by a blue-collar reliability; he kept scoring, season after season, eventually joining the exclusive century club for MLS goals. His late-career call-up to the 2010 U.S. World Cup squad was a fitting reward for years of unheralded production.
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.
Edson was born in 1981, 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 Edson Was Born
The biggest hits of 1981
#1 Movie
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Best Picture
Chariots of Fire
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Edson's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1981Born
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
1986Started school
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
1994Became a teenager
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
1997Could drive
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
1999Could vote
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Turned 21
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2011Turned 30
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 40
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 45 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Scored over 100 regular-season goals in Major League Soccer, one of only 13 players to do so at the time.
- Named to the MLS Best XI in 2010 after a 17-goal season for the LA Galaxy.
- Selected for the United States squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
- Won two MLS Cup championships, in 2011 and 2012 with the LA Galaxy.
Did You Know?
His first name is indeed a tribute to the Brazilian legend Pelé, whose full name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento.
He scored the very first goal at Red Bull Arena in 2010 while playing for the New York Red Bulls.
Buddle played for 10 different clubs in his professional career across MLS and lower divisions.
He is a certified barber and has cut teammates' hair throughout his career.
“My father gave me the name; I had to earn the goals.”
