Tim Ream #13

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Ream probably never imagined he’d be the USMNT’s elder statesman some 20 years ago. At the time, he was driving a beat-up Pontiac Grand Am five hours from St Louis to Chicago to play developmental soccer. Now, Ream isn’t just the elder statesman, he’s something approaching an elderly statesman, in line to become the oldest player in the history of the men’s national team to appear in a World Cup. He has unquestionably lost a step or two, but his experience and calming presence is badly needed on a USA backline that’s still very young and occasionally error prone. Ream doesn’t chalk his longevity up to any given workout routine, instead citing the smaller things: walking his dogs, fishing and even zoning out while playing with Lego. “Grandpa,” as his USMNT teammates sometimes call him, has no plans to retire anytime soon, having said he feels he could play another two or three years. Hopefully the USA can find a replacement by 2030.

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