Claudio Reyna Honored As World Cup All-Star

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July 3, 2002

YOKOHAMA, Japan – Former University of Virginia soccer standout Claudio Reyna is the first United States World Cup Men’s All-Star. Reyna, a midfielder and captain of the United States’ team, was among 16 players voted to the MasterCard All-Star Team of the 2002 World Cup by the FIFA Technical Study Group (TSG).

“This is a great honor, and I’m flattered to be included amongst a list of such great players,” Reyna said in a statement released by the U.S. Soccer Federation. “This type of award is all about the team, and obviously all of our guys deserve recognition.”

Other midfielders selected with Reyna were Rivaldo and Ronaldinho of Brazil, Yoo Sang-chul of South Korea, and Michael Ballack of Germany. Ballack scored the game-winning goal against the United States in the quarterfinals of the World Cup.

Following the second round of the World Cup, four Americans – Reyna, midfielder Landon Donovan, forward Brian McBride and goalkeeper Brad Friedel – were among a list of 53 players selected for consideration for the All-Star Team by the TSG.

Reyna twice earned National Player of the Year honors (1992 & 1993) at Virginia. He was a three-time first-team All-America selection and a three-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection.