Player Bio

Jonathan Bornstein

U.S. National Team: MNT
Position: Defender
Date Of Birth: Nov. 7, 1984
Height: 5-9
Weight: 145
Hometown: Los Alamitos, Calif.
Club: UANL Tigres (La Primera Division de Mexico)

A speedy left back full of energy and commitment, Bornstein has proven his ability at that spot at the international level. Making his first appearance in a FIFA World Cup, Bornstein turned in one of the many standout performances for the team in the dramatic 1-0 victory against Algeria that set off huge celebrations here in the United States. While his appearances at left back are his bread and butter, it was his foray into the attack that cemented his place in U.S. Soccer lore when he tallied the game-tying goal in the waning seconds against Costa Rica to deliver the U.S. a 2-2 draw and first place in final round qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. After five seasons at Chivas USA that began with Rookie of the Year honors in 2006, he moved south to join UANL Tigres in Mexico’s top flight.

Started two matches in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the 1-0 victory against Algeria and the Round of 16 game against Ghana
His goal in the fifth minute of second half stoppage time helped the U.S. earn an emotional 2-2 draw against Costa Rica and first place in the final round World Cup qualifying group in 2009
Wore the captain’s armband for the first time when he led the team in the 2-1 victory on Feb. 24, 2010, against El Salvador in Tampa
Kicked off his MNT career with a bang in 2007, starting in his first cap against Denmark and scoring the game-winner in a 3-1 victory at The Home Depot Center
One of only seven players to make more than 10 appearances in their first calendar year with the national team
Drafted in the fourth round, he started every game during a fantastic rookie season with Chivas USA to win MLS Rookie of the Year honors

U.S. Nat’l Team
Professional
College
Personal

2010: Wore the captain’s armband for the first time when he led the team in the 2-1 victory on Feb. 24 against El Salvador in Tampa … Started two matches in the World Cup, turning in a fine performance in the 1-0 victory against Algeria and the Round of 16 loss to Ghana … Reprised his role at left back in the post-tournament friendly against Brazil … Served as the most experienced player on the roster when the U.S. defeated South Africa 2-1 in the Nelson Mandela Challenge on Nov. 17 in Cape Town … Made nine total appearances … 2009: His 11 starts in 2009 tied his career best from 2007 … Started all three games in the group phase of the 2009 Confederations Cup … Snatched the left back spot for the final six games of the year, including four World Cup qualifiers … Scored his second career goal in style, heading home a Robbie Rogers corner in the fifth minute of second half stoppage time to help the U.S. earn a emotional 2-2 draw against Costa Rica on Oct. 14 at RFK Stadium … 2008: Made one appearance … Started and played the full 90 minutes in the 2-0 win against Guatemala on Nov. 19 in Colorado … Included in the squad that traveled to Trinidad & Tobago in October, making the game-day roster ... 2007: One of only seven players to make more than 10 appearances in their first calendar year with the national team … Made his first career appearance in January, where he started and scored a goal in a 3-1 victory against Denmark at The Home Depot Center … After breaking into the squad in 2007, he became a regular in the same year, and was a member of the Gold Cup and Copa America sides … Made five appearances in the Gold Cup, all starts at left back, including the final against Mexico … First Appearance: Jan. 20, 2007, vs. Denmark … First Goal: Jan. 20, 2007, vs. Denmark.

2010: After five seasons at Chivas, he moved to UANL Tigres of the Mexican First Division … Played in 21 games, starting 17 for Chivas …2009: Made 26 starts for Chivas USA, deployed as both a left back and a center back … Upped his career tally to nine goals and eight assists in four seasons in MLS … 2008: Returned from an early season injury to feature in 21 games for Chivas USA, as the Los Angeles club rallied to make a strong push into the postseason … Started 19 games for Chivas, tallying two goals and two assists for the Goats ... 2007: Split time between Chivas USA and the U.S. MNT, but still made 23 regular season appearances for his club team (all starts) … Scored a goal and an assist, as Chivas USA secured their first regular season Western Conference title in club history … Named to the MLS Best XI at the end of the season, though Chivas failed to make it out of the first round of the playoffs … 2006: Made 32 appearances for Chivas, all starts, notching a colossal 2,878 minutes … Was part of a defense which, under then head coach Bob Bradley, progressed to the playoffs for the first time in franchise history … Was first in the league among field players in minutes played … Led all rookies in the league with six goals … Though Chivas bowed out in the first round of the postseason, he finished the year as MLS Rookie of the Year with 19 total points.

Attended UCLA after transferring from Cal Poly Pomona in 2004 … In his senior year for the Bruins, started every game of the season en route to scoring five goals and adding four assists … In three seasons at Cal Poly, he ranked second in career assists, fifth in career goals and third in career points … Played under National Soccer Hall of Famer Paul Caligiuri at Cal Poly Pomona.

Chronicled in a popular “first cap” all_access video on ussoccer.com in which he scored a goal and then presented his jersey to his father in the stands … Featured in Interview Magazine photo shoot prior to the 2010 World Cup … Lists Diego Maradona as the player he most admires … Comes from a mixed background of Jewish and Mexican heritage … An Oakland Raiders fan ever since trading jerseys with kicker Sebastian Janikowski, a former soccer player … Does a good deal of charity work, including the Michael Hoefflin Foundation, which raises money for children and families affected by cancer; the Wednesday’s Child Program, which helps increase adoptions of foster children; and the U.S. Soccer Foundation Passback Program, which donates soccer equipment to teams and players in need around the world.