Omar Gonzalez

Early life and college

Gonzalez played youth soccer for the Dallas Texans Soccer Club, and played college soccer at the University of Maryland, College Park, where he won the 2008 College Cup championship, was named to the NCAA/Adidas All-American First Team and First Team All-ACC and was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore in 2007.

LA Galaxy

Gonzalez was drafted in the first round (3rd overall) of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft by the Los Angeles Galaxy. Gonzalez began a regular feature in the Galaxy lineup from the start, and scored his first professional goal on April 4, 2009, against Colorado Rapids. He was named MLS Rookie of the Year for helping lead the Galaxy from a last-place finish in 2008. In the 2010 season, Gonzalez scored a total of three goals including in the second leg of the Conference Semifinals.

In January 2012, Gonzalez was loaned to 1. FC Nürnberg of the Bundesliga until mid-February. During his first training session with his new club, Gonzalez suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament to his left knee after a collision with national teammate Timothy Chandler. He immediately headed back to the U.S. to undergo surgery. In August 2013, Gonzalez became Galaxy's third Designated Player after signing a new multi-year contract, rumored to be an annual average of more than $1.5 million. Gonzalez is the first pure center back to ever earn a Designated Player contract in Major League Soccer.

Pachuca

On December 22,…

On August 10, 2010, Gonzalez made his senior team debut for the United States in a friendly against Brazil. On March 26, 2013, Gonzalez was given the start in central defense in the United States' 0–0 draw in a World Cup qualifier against Mexico at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. According to Jeff Carlisle of ESPN, Gonzalez "was the man of the match by a clear margin". Gonzalez was included on Jurgen Klinsmann's 23-man roster for the 2014 World Cup. He started in the final group match against Germany, and the round of 16 match versus Belgium. On October 10, 2017, Gonzalez scored an own goal in the final game of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers against Trinidad and Tobago which resulted in a 2–1 loss which prevented the United States from qualifying for the 2018 World Cup. Gonzalez would make his final appearance for the national team in a quarterfinal game in the 2019 Gold Cup against Curaçao.

Club

As of match played September 6, 2025

International

As of match played June 30, 2019. Scores and results list the United States's goal tally first.

Born in the United States, Gonzalez is of Mexican descent.