10 Great Moments from DaMarcus Beasley's USMNT Career
Fourteen years ago, an 18-year-old pacey midfielder named DaMarcus Beasley made his United States men's national team debut against China.
In the years following his first appearance for the Yanks, Beasley would go on to appear in four World Cups and win a quartet of CONCACAF Gold Cups before retiring from international play in December 2014.
When he stepped away from the international game, Beasley left the USMNT with 121 appearances, 17 goals and 13 assists.
As we celebrate the 14-year anniversary of Beasley's debut on the world stage, here's a look at 10 of his greatest USMNT moments.
International Debut Against China
1 of 10
Beasley made his first appearance for the USMNT against China at the Network Associates Coliseum in Oakland on January 27, 2001.
"I will never forget the feeling. It was nerves. It was excitement. A lot of things were going through my head, but the main thing was 'Don't mess up,'" Beasley told U.S. Soccer in 2013 when discussing his debut.
At the time, Beasley was still breaking onto the scene in Major League Soccer with the Chicago Fire. He was called into the annual January camp by manager Bruce Arena to test his skills against some of the veteran players in the talent pool.
Of the 15 players who featured for the Yanks in the 2-1 victory, Beasley is the only one currently playing. Landon Donovan, who retired at the end of 2014, recorded an assist in a start that day.
The squad included three current Major League Soccer managers (Gregg Berhalter, Greg Vanney and Ben Olsen) as well as USMNT stalwarts such as Tony Meola, Jeff Agoos, Eddie Pope and Brian McBride.
Breakout Performance at the 2002 Gold Cup
2 of 10
Beasley's play at the 2002 Gold Cup helped him earn the first of his four trips to the World Cup.
The 2002 edition of the tournament was played in January and February at the Rose Bowl and the Orange Bowl. Ten CONCACAF nations as well as South Korea and Ecuador participated in the competition.
Beasley scored the game-winning goal in the USMNT's first Group B game against South Korea and went on to have an impressive tournament.
The Yanks won the Gold Cup with a 2-0 victory over Costa Rica, and by the end of the tournament, Beasley was on his way to becoming a staple of the national team for years to come.
First Goal Against South Korea
3 of 10The first of Beasley's 17 goals came at the Rose Bowl on January 18, 2002, against South Korea in the Gold Cup.
With time winding down in the Group B match, the Yanks were in need of a goal to earn three crucial points heading into a clash with Cuba three days later.
In the 90th minute, Beasley belted a volley from the left side of the box into the back of the net. The play was set up by a Jeff Cunningham pass from the right.
"That was one of my happiest moments ever. It was a goal I'll never forget," Beasley said during a U.S. Soccer video interview in 2013.
The buildup to the goal and the strike itself appear at the two-minute mark of the video above.
World Cup Quarterfinal Appearance
4 of 10
Beasley was one of two young USMNT players to take the world by storm in Japan and South Korea during the 2002 World Cup. The other one was some guy named Landon Donovan, who we hear turned out to be a pretty decent player himself.
The midfielder played in all three group matches for the Yanks, who finished second in Group D behind co-hosts South Korea.
Despite his role in the team's success during the group stage, Beasley did not play in the knockout round against Mexico and Germany.
Although he did not earn a spot in Arena's lineup for either match, Beasley still played a role in earning the USMNT's best World Cup finish since 1930.
Play at the 2003 Confederations Cup
5 of 10
The USMNT may not have experienced the best time at the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup, but Beasley had strong showings in three matches.
Before everything went downhill for the Yanks in France, Beasley put the team ahead against Turkey by way of a 37th-minute goal.
After Beasley handed the USMNT an improbable lead, Turkey came back to score two goals and win the Group B opener.
In the final two games of the competition, Beasley and the Yanks lost 1-0 to Brazil and held group winners Cameroon to a 0-0 draw at the Stade de Gerland in Lyon.
Although the team as a whole left France with sour feelings about their performance in the tournament, Beasley left as one of the highest-rated American players.
One year later, he earned a move to PSV Eindhoven in the Eredivisie, which helped start his successful club career in Europe.
Golden Boot at the 2005 Gold Cup
6 of 10
Beasley's best performance in front of goal during a major tournament came at the 2005 Gold Cup, where he earned the Golden Boot.
The midfielder scored on three occasions throughout the competition, including two in a quarterfinal win over Jamaica at Gillette Stadium. His other strike found the back of the net during the 89th minute of the USMNT's Group B win over Cuba.
Four other players scored three goals during the 2005 edition of the tournament, but Beasley won the Golden Boot thanks to his two goals in the knockout round.
In the final, the USMNT defeated Panama on penalties at Giants Stadium to earn the second of Beasley's four Gold Cups.
Transition to Left-Back
7 of 10
Beasley's international career took an unexpected turn over the last five years, as he shifted into the back four to play at left-back.
His first appearance at the position came in 2009 in a World Cup qualifying match in Nashville against Trinidad and Tobago, but he didn't earn consistent time at left-back until 2013.
In between his stints at left-back, Beasley was not a permanent member of the USMNT first team, but he was able to earn a spot on the bench at the 2010 World Cup.
Thanks to his ability to adjust to the position with ease, Beasley was able to extend his international career by a few years and earn a fourth trip to the World Cup.
100th Appearance in an United States Shirt
8 of 10
On May 29, 2013, Beasley joined the exclusive 100-appearance club against Belgium at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland.
Beasley was able to celebrate the milestone with plenty of friends and family, which made the moment special for the American star.
"It felt good. It lasted about three minutes and then I had to worry about the game," Beasley said at the time, per Goal.com's Alex Labidou. "But at the same time, it felt good to have my family and friends here. Those people who were in the stands have been there since day one and they've stuck with me throughout thick and thin."
Unfortunately, the Yanks were unable to pull off a win to complete the dream night for Beasley, as the visiting Belgians won the friendly 4-2.
Captain of the 2013 Gold Cup Team
9 of 10
Beasley was handed the ultimate honor of captaining the USMNT during the 2013 Gold Cup.
The left-back started two of the team's three Group C matches before he featured in every knockout-round match on the way to the Gold Cup title.
The championship marked the fourth time Beasley lifted the Gold Cup in his career. He also won titles in 2002, 2005 and 2007 with the Yanks.
The 2013 Gold Cup would mark the second-to-last tournament Beasley competed in before hanging up his international boots at the end of 2014.
Fourth World Cup Appearance
10 of 10
When he took the field for the USMNT's Group G opener against Ghana at the 2014 World Cup, Beasley made his own bit of history.
In the thrilling 2-1 win, Beasley became the first American player to take the pitch in four World Cups. Kasey Keller and Claudio Reyna were on four World Cup rosters, but neither participated in all four. Reyna did not play in 1994, because of an injury, and Keller was a back-up 'keeper in 1990 and 2002.
Despite being 32 years old, Beasley started all four games at the World Cup for the USMNT at left-back, which is something no one expected to happen even six months before the tournament.
To add to his achievement, Beasley left Brazil as one of the top-rated American players in the tournament.
Follow Joe on Twitter @JTansey90.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
