One of the most decorated players in US national team history will no longer wear the Red, White and Blue.
Longtime American international DaMarcus Beasley announced on Instagram on Monday that he has retired from international soccer, ending one of the longest and most prolific careers of any US player.
The only American to play in four World Cups, Beasley ranks fifth in USMNT history with 121 caps and is tied for ninth all-time with 17 goals. He first suited up for the senior national team in 2001, spending most of his international career as a winger before converting to left back ahead of the 2014 World Cup.
The 32-year-old Beasley started all four of the US’s games in Brazil, playing every minute in the US’s run to the Round of 16. He made his World Cup debut in 2002 and later played in the 2006 and 2010 incarnations of the tournament.
Beasley’s decision comes as a slight surprise, as he had told media in late-July that he wasn’t planning on “retiring anytime soon.” Additionally, he was included on the last US roster, receiving his final cap in the Americans’ 2-1 friendly loss to Colombia in London on Nov. 14 before returning to the States ahead of the US’s 4-1 exhibition defeat at Ireland on Nov. 18.
Beasley left no indication that he's retiring from game completely, however, meaning that he's expected to suit up for the Houston Dynamo again next season.
