Soccer Player. US Soccer Hall of Fame. 1950 US World Cup Team. He scored probably the most famous goal in US soccer history, the goal that beat England in the 1950 World Cup 1-0. Born in Haiti to a prominent family, he went to the US in the late 1940s to study accounting at Columbia University. Playing for local team Brookhatten of the American Soccer League, he won the league's scoring title, which led to his selection to the 1950 US World Cup team. He was not a citizen but was allowed to play for the US team as he had declared his intent to apply for citizenship, which was the rule at the time. In the 1950 World Cup, vs England, his diving header of a Walter Bahr cross in the 37th minute was the only goal in the famous US victory (the US were 500:1 longshots) over England. After the World Cup, he played professionally in France before returning to Haiti and eventually played for the Haitian national team in a 1953 World Cup qualifier vs Mexico. His family was politically prominent though he was apolitical. However, this did not stop the minions of dictator "Papa Doc" Duvalier from arresting him. He is assumed to have been executed in the infamous Fort Diamanche prison on or about July 10, 1964. His body was never found. In the 2005 movie "The Game of Their Lives" (aka "Miracle Match"), he was played by Jimmy Jean-Louis.
Soccer Player. US Soccer Hall of Fame. 1950 US World Cup Team. He scored probably the most famous goal in US soccer history, the goal that beat England in the 1950 World Cup 1-0. Born in Haiti to a prominent family, he went to the US in the late 1940s to study accounting at Columbia University. Playing for local team Brookhatten of the American Soccer League, he won the league's scoring title, which led to his selection to the 1950 US World Cup team. He was not a citizen but was allowed to play for the US team as he had declared his intent to apply for citizenship, which was the rule at the time. In the 1950 World Cup, vs England, his diving header of a Walter Bahr cross in the 37th minute was the only goal in the famous US victory (the US were 500:1 longshots) over England. After the World Cup, he played professionally in France before returning to Haiti and eventually played for the Haitian national team in a 1953 World Cup qualifier vs Mexico. His family was politically prominent though he was apolitical. However, this did not stop the minions of dictator "Papa Doc" Duvalier from arresting him. He is assumed to have been executed in the infamous Fort Diamanche prison on or about July 10, 1964. His body was never found. In the 2005 movie "The Game of Their Lives" (aka "Miracle Match"), he was played by Jimmy Jean-Louis.
Bio by: Kenneth Gilbert
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