Player Profile

The left-back divides opinion in the United States but he is a national hero in Honduras: his 94th-minute equaliser for the US against Costa Rica last October clinched a World Cup place for the Hondurans.

Bornstein’s name was chanted in the streets of Honduras, and the country’s president offered him an all-expenses-paid trip to an island resort.

Bornstein made a goal-scoring debut for the USA in 2007 but has struggled to hold down a regular starting spot. He was dropped after the group stage of last summer’s Confederations Cup, regaining his place for the last few World Cup qualifiers, but has struggled for form in subsequent friendlies.

Although his international form has been patchy, Bornstein was named in the MLS All-Star team for the third successive season in 2009, having made 28 starts for Chivas USA at left-back and in central defence.

He played as a forward at college but began his MLS career as a left-back at Chivas, under now-US coach Bob Bradley, due to an injury crisis.

Bornstein, of mixed Mexican and Jewish heritage, is highly superstitious. His pre-match ritual before club games includes eating a foot-long turkey sandwich on Italian herb-and-cheese bread!