Nick Rimando
A compact, acrobatic goalkeeper whose record-setting MLS career redefined longevity and clutch performances between the posts.
Born 1979 (age 47)·American soccer player·Birthday: June 17·Generation X
Biography
Nick Rimando's stature was unassuming, but his presence in goal for Major League Soccer was colossal. Over a 19-season career spent entirely in the league, the Californian built an unmatched resume through sheer consistency, lightning reflexes, and a preternatural ability to stop penalty kicks. He became the bedrock for D.C. United and, most famously, Real Salt Lake, where his heroics in the 2009 MLS Cup penalty shootout delivered the club its first championship. Rimando's game was built on explosive athleticism; he was a master of the spectacular, point-blank save. He retired holding virtually every significant MLS goalkeeping record, from wins and shutouts to total appearances, a testament to his durability and sustained excellence. While his US national team caps were limited behind other greats, his legacy as perhaps the greatest pure shot-stopper in MLS history is secure.
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.
Nick 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 Nick Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Nick'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
- Retired as MLS's all-time leader in wins (221), shutouts (154), saves (1,705), and appearances (514).
- Won two MLS Cup championships, with D.C. United in 2004 and Real Salt Lake in 2009, earning MLS Cup MVP honors in 2009.
- Lifted the MLS Supporters' Shield four times (D.C. United in 2006, 2007; Real Salt Lake in 2010, 2019).
- Earned 22 caps for the United States men's national team and was part of the 2014 FIFA World Cup squad.
Did You Know?
He was known as the 'Wall of the Wasatch' during his time with Real Salt Lake, referencing the nearby Wasatch Mountain range.
Rimando is an accomplished breakdancer and would sometimes incorporate dance moves into his goal celebrations.
He is of Filipino descent on his mother's side.
Despite his height (5'9"), he was renowned for his vertical leap and ability to make saves on high shots.
“I've always said I play with a chip on my shoulder because of my size.”
