Top Soccer Players in Chicago
In anticipation of Lionel Messi’s Inter-Miami coming to Chicago to play the Fire on October 4, House CEO Peter Wilt was asked by the Chicago Tribune’s Vintage newsletter to put together some names of previous soccer superstars who’ve played in Chicago. Peter included House Historian Chuck Carlson in the project, and (after about 100 texts) they came up with a general consensus of top 10 men and women who have played matches in Chicago, as well as a list of 5 men and 5 women who have NOT played here (which, seems prescient, given Messi’s status for the MLS league match.)
The Tribune published a summary version, so we are sending out the whole list and explanation here:
Five Best Men’s Players to Play in Chicago
Lionel Messi - Arguably the best men’s player to ever play the game, and certainly the best in the 21st century, Messi will (if he is healthy) be making his 3rd appearance in Chicago. His first match, a Soldier Field all-star game billed as “Messi & Friends versus the Rest of the World,” was better known for its organizational missteps than the play on the field. His second appearance though, was more successful. In June of 2016, Messi came on as a 61st minute substitute for Argentina when they defeated Panama 5-0 in a Copa America group match. Messi notched a hat-trick in his brief appearance.
Pelé - To many fans, Pelé is known for his 1977 appearance in Chicago as a member of the North American Soccer League (NASL) New York Cosmos. However, that May 11 appearance at Soldier Field was not his first game in Chicago, in fact, it was his 5th. He first competed here as a member of Sao Paolo’s Santos in 1970, where he scored two goals in a 4-3 Santos victory over an NASL all-star team at Soldier Field. He came back with Santos in 1971 for another Soldier Field match, and again in 1972 and 1973 for matches at the much smaller Hanson Stadium.
Jose Leandro Andrade - A star on the 1924 and 1928 Olympic champion Uruguay National team, as well as a World Cup champion in 1930, Andrade’s Nacional team of Montevideo toured the United States in 1927. He played in both Soldier Field matches in May of that year versus Sparta (1-0 win for Nacional) and Chicago Bricklayers (a 3-2 win for Bricklayers). In addition to being a soccer star, Andrade was also a Black man playing at the highest level when white supremacist policies did not allow non-white players to play major league sports in the United States, so the Chicago Defender featured Andrade and Nacional as an example of integrated sports possibility.
Eusebio - “The Black Panther,” was born in Mozambique and played internationally for Portugal, where he led Portugal to 1966 World Cup semi-finals. He was often called the 2nd best men’s player to play soccer in the 20th century. After leaving Benfica of Lisbon, he came to the North American Soccer League in 1975, and as a member of Toronto Metro-Croatians played against the Chicago Sting at Soldier Field on August 20, 1976. Eusebio’s Chicago career did not end there, as, after his professional days had finished, he joined Chicago’s (and Midwest Premier League!) RWB Adria in the mid-1980’s and played many local matches far from the spotlight of stadiums.
Bert Patenaude-First player in a Men’s World Cup to score a hattrick, when he put in three goals versus Paraguay on July 17, 1930, in Montevideo, Uruguay. He was a star in the professional American Soccer League in the late 1920’s and early 1930’s. On April 12, 1931, Patenaude led his Fall River FC team (called the New York Yankees) against the Chicago Bricklayers in a US Open Cup final played at Mills Stadium in front of 9,500 fans. That match ended in a draw, so Patenaude played in Chicago again a week later, as his Fall River team beat the Bricklayers 2-0 to win the Open Cup (then called the National Challenge Cup), with Patenaude getting the opening goal in that championship replay.
Five Best Men’s Players to Not Play in Chicago
Cristiano Ronaldo-In 2017 his Real Madrid team played MLS all-stars at Soldier Field, but Ronaldo was still on vacation, and did not travel with the team.
Diego Maradona-Always mentioned in top 5 players of all-time, Maradona never played in Chicago.
Johan Cruyff-The star of the Netherlands in the 1974 World Cup, and 3-time World Player of the Year award winner, Cruyff joined the North American Soccer League’s Los Angeles Aztecs in 1979. The Aztecs did not play in Chicago that year, and when he was a member of Washington Diplomats in 1980, Cruyff was injured when the Dips visited Soldier Field, and did not play.
George Weah-Often mentioned as one of the greatest players to never play in a World Cup, the Liberian star never played a competitive match in Chicago. He does have significant connections to soccer in the US however, as his son Tim is a regular for the US Men’s National Team.
Ferenc Puskas-The Hungarian superstar of 1950’s and 60’s was a mainstay for Real Madrid and the Hungarian National team. He was manager of the Vancouver Royals of the North American Soccer League in 1968, but Chicago’s entry of that league, the Mustangs only played Vancouver on the road in Canada, so no Puskas appearance in Chicago as player or manager.
Another 5 superstars that DID play in Chicago:
Gordon Banks-1966 World Cup winning English Goalkeeper played with Ft. Lauderdale Strikers against Chicago Sting in 1977.
Ronaldo-Brazilian star played at Soldier Field for Real Madrid versus Chivas de Guadalajara in July 2005.
Zinedine Zidane-Also played in that July 2005 match (along with David Beckham) in front of 50,000+ fans at Soldier Field. He managed Real Madrid when they played MLS all-stars at Soldier Field in 2017.
Gil Heron-The first Black player to suit up for world soccer power Glasgow Celtic in 1951. He was born in Jamaica, but became a US Citizen in Chicago in 1949, and played for Chicago Maroons and Chicago Sparta in late 40’s and early 50’s.
Gerd Muller-Prolific scorer (2nd to Ronaldo in World Cup goals with 13), he played with Ft. Lauderdale Strikers versus the Sting at Soldier Field on August 8, 1979.
Five Best Women’s Players to Play in Chicago
Since so many of the world’s greatest Women’s soccer players have been North Americans, and US Soccer professional leagues were the most lucrative in the world, Chicago has been lucky to host numerous superstars many times.
Mia Hamm-Hamm started her USA career in 1987 as a 15-year-old and went on to have a long career for the USA national team, as well as in the Women’s United Soccer Association (WUSA) professional league from 2001-2003. That pro-league did not have a Chicago franchise, so many of the earliest women stars only came here as members of national teams. When the USWNT played their first game at Soldier Field in Chicago, Hamm was on the scoresheet 3 times as USA beat Germany 4-2 on June 28, 1998. Hamm does have a connection to Chicago off the field, as she is married to Nomar Garciaparra, who played shortstop for the Cubs in 2000’s.
Marta-The Brazilian star is still competing at the highest levels, and just wrapped up her 6th World Cup earlier this year. She has been playing professionally in the US on and off since 2009, so she has many Chicago appearances, but her first as a pro was in August of 2009 as her Los Angeles Sol team were on the losing end of a 3-1 match against Chicago Red Stars at Toyota Park in Bridgeview.
Michelle Akers-The first American global “superstar,” Michelle Akers appeared 155 times for the United States and led the team to victory in the inaugural Women’s World Cup in 1991. She scored two goals in the final, which solidified her place as a star on the biggest global stage. Akers did not combine with Mia Hamm in that 1998 international at Soldier Field, but she did score against Nigeria in 1999 when the USA played a World Cup group stage match on June 24, 1999.
Christine Sinclair-The Canadian international has been playing for the Canadian National team for over 20 years. She played college soccer in the US and has been a part of every major Women’s professional league in the United States, so she has played in Chicago many times. In 2009, Sinclair was part of the FC Gold Pride team, which Chicago Red Stars beat 3-1 on July 12 at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, IL.
Hope Solo-One of the most well-known players in Women’s soccer history for her career in the sport, as well as some incidents off the field, there is no doubt that Solo is one of best goalkeepers in soccer history. The Washington state native played college soccer at University of Washington, even as she joined the US Women’s National Team in 2000. While she played numerous Chicago matches, one of her most significant achievements occurred at Soldier Field on July 9, 2016, as she earned her 100th international shutout in a 1-0 friendly win over South Africa.
Five Best Women’s Players to NOT Play in Chicago
Brigid Prinz-The German superstar and 3-time FIFA player of the year played in the WUSA and was a member of German national team from 1994-2011 but has not made any official game appearances in Chicago.
Sun Wen-The star of China’s early national teams also played in WUSA but did not play in Chicago during her 17-year playing career.
Lily Parr-Lily Parr was the star of the Dick, Kerr's Ladies Football team of England in the 1920’s. They were so successful that women’s soccer was officially banned in England from 1921 to 1970. The team did go on the road to the USA in 1922, and they were scheduled to play in Chicago, but the tour ran into financial issues, and ultimately played matches only in the Northeast. Unfortunately, Chicago fans did not get a chance to see one of the earliest superstars.
Jennifer Hermoso-While Parr is one of the most historic Women’s players to not play in Chicago, some more recent stars have not yet played here. Spanish superstar, and World Cup champion Jennifer Hermoso has yet to make an official Chicago appearance.
Wendie Renard-One of France’s greatest players, Renard has played her whole club career for Lyon in France. While France have played in the USA during Renard’s career, none of those matches have occurred in Chicago.
Another 5 superstars that DID play in Chicago (much more difficult to choose than men’s players!):
Abby Wambach-USA superstar forward has played with both club and national team in Chicago.
Homare Sawa-The Japanese star who played internationally from 1993-2015 played at Soldier Field during the 1999 World Cup.
Cristiane-While not as well-known as Marta, one of Brazil’s all-time greats is very familiar with Chicago. She was a member of the Red Stars in 2009-2010 and scored a hat trick when the Red Stars beat Christine Sinclair’s FC Gold Pride in July 2009.
Hege Riise-One of Norway’s greatest players, she played her entire professional career in Europe, but did appear in Chicago with the Norwegian national team in a 1999 World Cup match versus Japan.
Kelly Smith-One of England’s all-time goal scoring leaders actually went to college at Seton Hall in Pennsylvania and played professional in the USA for several years. She notched 2 goals in a Boston Breakers 3-1 win over the Red Stars in Bridgeview, IL on July 25, 2010.