Clinton Drew “Clint” Dempsey is an American soccer player who currently plays for English Premier League club Fulham and for the United States national team. A versatile attacking player known for his ball skills, he can be used on either wing or as a striker.
Dempsey first played for the American national team at the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship in the United Arab Emirates. He made his first appearance with the senior team on November 17, 2004 against Jamaica. He currently has 62 caps with the senior team and has recorded 18 goals, having established himself as a first-choice player when healthy. He has frequently lined up as a striker due to his scoring threat and aerial ability, but his preferred and more normal role is on the wing. He won the highest individual honor in American soccer when he was named Honda Player of the Year for 2006, beating Fulham teammates Kasey Keller and Brian McBride in a poll of sportswriters. Dempsey received 237 points in voting by 207 sports journalists to claim the award.
On May 2, 2006, Dempsey was named to the U.S. roster for the 2006 FIFA World Cup tournament in Germany. He became the only American player to score a goal in the tournament with his equalizing goal in the Americans’ eventual 2–1 loss to Ghana.
In the United States’ opening 2010 World Cup qualifier, Dempsey recorded the fastest goal in U.S. qualifying history with a chest trap and sliding shot 53 seconds into a 8–0 defeat of Barbados. But thereafter, Dempsey experienced a dip in form leading some to doubt his first-choice status with the national team. However, Dempsey turned his fortunes around in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. In the final group stage match against Egypt, Dempsey scored a trademark diving header off a Jonathan Spector cross, making the final result 3–0. This, combined with Brazil’s 3–0 victory against Italy in the other group match that was being played simultaneously, put the U.S. through to the semifinals. In the semi-final match against Spain, Dempsey scored to put the USA up 2–0 to send them to the finals. He was named the Man of the Match for his performance. Dempsey scored in his third straight game in the Confederations Cup Final against Brazil, redirecting a similar cross from Spector in the 10th minute to open the scoring. Following the loss, he was awarded the Bronze Ball as the tournament’s 3rd best performer. He ended the World Cup qualifying campaign tied with Landon Donovan as the team’s 2nd top scorer, behind Jozy Altidore, with five goals in thirteen matches.
On June 12, 2010, Dempsey became the second American (the first being Brian McBride) to score in more than one World Cup when he scored the tying goal against England in the Americans’ first game of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
