MARCELO BALBOA RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE GREATEST U.S. NATIONAL TEAM PLAYERS EVER

Retired U.S. National Team Defender Honored During 6th Honda Symposium in L.A.

LOS ANGELES (October 8, 2003) - Former U.S. National Team defender Marcelo Balboa, who earlier this year ended his outstanding professional soccer career, was honored during today's Honda Symposium as one of the best American soccer players ever.

During today's special presentation, Fútbol de Primera's Andres Cantor and Alejandro Gutman awarded Balboa a commemorative trophy that recognized his contributions to the development of the game in the United States and his accomplishments as one of the greatest U.S. National Team players ever.

"I would like to thank Alex Gutman and Andres Cantor for everything that have done for me during my career," said Balboa. "It's an honor to receive an award like this, especially a lifetime achievement award at the age of 36. Soccer is not an individual sport, and I would like to thank all of my National Team and club teammates. I would also like to thank MLS for making a lot of our dreams of playing in the U.S. come true. As an American player, you always dream of playing in a World Cup, but as an American, I never thought that I would be able to say that I have played in three World Cups. I would like to thank the fans, from Colorado to the National Team, who have supported my career over the years. Soccer has given me so much throughout my career, and now that I have retired, I hope to give something back, whether that be the working with the Federation or MLS. I would like to thank Phil Anschutz for making me a part of the Colorado Rapids, and also the fans of Colorado for treating me and my family so well over the years, and I look forward to being involved in soccer in Colorado for years to come. Finally, I would like to thank my wife, kids, mom and dad for being so supportive of my career over the years. Through the good times and the bad times, they have always been there and I just want them to let them know that I love them and appreciate their support."

Balboa was joined in Los Angeles by his son Nicholas, his parents Luis and Alicia, his brother Claudio, and his sister-in-law Debbie. Additionally, former teammate Eric Wynalda and Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber also participated in the ceremony.

During his outstanding career, Balboa represented the United States in the World Cup in 1990, 1994 and 1998, and is one of only five Americans to play in three World Cups. He won the 1994 Honda Player of the Year Award, given annually to the best player on the U.S. National Team as chosen by the media, and also was named one of three finalists for this prestigious honor in 1991, 1992 and 1995. Only current U.S. National Team captain Claudio Reyna and goalkeeper Kasey Keller have also been named finalists for the Honda Player of the Year Award at least four times.

In 1994, he helped lead the U.S. National Team to the second round of the World Cup, and was only one of five U.S. players to participate in every minute of every U.S. World Cup game. He scored four goals for the National Team that year, and as a result he joined 1993 Honda Player of the Year Thomas Dooley and 1995 Honda Player of the Year Alexi Lalas as the only U.S. defenders to ever score at least four goals during a calendar year. Since then, only 2003 Honda Player of the Year finalist Carlos Bocanegra has matched this impressive feat.

Balboa began his career with the National Team in 1988, and over the course of the next 13 years he played in a total of 128 matches and scored a total of 13 goals. He now ranks third on the U.S. National Team's all-time appearance list, trailing only former teammates Cobi Jones and Jeff Agoos, but at one point in 1998 only two other players in the history of world soccer had played in more games during their careers for their National Team than Marcelo had played for the United States.

Balboa won the 1986 U-19 national championship with his club Fram-Culver. After two seasons at San Diego State University, he began his professional career in the American Professional Soccer League first with the San Diego Nomads, and later the with San Francisco Blackhawks and Colorado Foxes. After playing the 1995-96 season with Mexican first division club Leon, he joined Major League Soccer's Colorado Rapids in 1996 and scored a career-best 7 goals in its inaugural season. During his six seasons with the Rapids he scored a total of 24 goals, including one which won 2000 MLS Goal of the Year honors. After spending the 2002 season with the Metrostars, earlier this year Balboa ended his playing career and moved upstairs to the broadcast booth, where he is currently remains active in the game broadcasting Major League Soccer matches on HDNET.

Fútbol de Primera is proud to salute a man and a player who will forever have a place on the U.S. National Team's all-time best XI.