Tony Meola
A trailblazing American goalkeeper whose commanding presence and key saves helped build soccer's foundation in the United States across three World Cups.
Born 1969 (age 57)·American soccer player·Birthday: February 21·Generation X
Biography
Tony Meola stood as a fortress during American soccer's formative years. With his distinctive headband and unflappable demeanor, he was the last line of defense for a national team fighting for global respect. His career arc mirrors the sport's growth in the U.S.: from the 1990 World Cup, a learning experience, to 1994 where his crucial saves on home soil made him a household name, and finally to 2002, where his veteran leadership helped guide a surprising run to the quarterfinals. In between, he became a cornerstone of Major League Soccer, winning championships and MVP honors, proving a world-class athlete could thrive in the domestic league. Meola was more than a shot-stopper; he was a pioneer, a charismatic figure who brought credibility and visibility to the goalkeeper position and to the sport itself during its critical American adolescence.
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.
Tony was born in 1969, 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 Tony Was Born
The biggest hits of 1969
#1 Movie
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Best Picture
Midnight Cowboy
#1 TV Show
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Tony's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1969Born
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1974Started school
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1982Became a teenager
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1985Could drive
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
1987Could vote
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1990Turned 21
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
1999Turned 30
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2009Turned 40
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 50
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 57 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Earned 100 caps for the United States men's national team, playing in three FIFA World Cups (1990, 1994, 2002).
- Won MLS Cup and was named MLS MVP in 2000 as the goalkeeper for the Kansas City Wizards.
- Set an MLS record (since broken) for longest shutout streak, going over 681 minutes without conceding a goal in 2000.
- Named U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year in 1994 after his stellar performances in the World Cup.
Did You Know?
He was drafted by the New York Jets in the 1990 NFL draft as a placekicker, though he never played.
He briefly pursued a professional baseball career in the minor leagues for the New York Yankees organization.
After retiring, he became a radio host on SiriusXM FC, analyzing the sport.
He is of Italian descent and was named after his grandfather, Antonio.
“My job was simple: keep the ball out of the net.”
