From the beginning of his career, both in Major League Soccer and in the USA youth ranks, Beasley was recognised as a player with skill and determination in abundance. Looking at his seemingly fragile build, some might have wondered if he had the physical strength to survive at the highest level of the game but the winger’s spectacular rise has forced people to think again.

Born in the mid-western state of Indiana, the fleet-footed Beasley played alongside Landon Donovan in the USA’s U-17 and U-20 sides. He cut a fearsome figure in the FIFA U-17 World Championship in New Zealand in 1999 where his efforts in helping the US reach the semi-finals earned him the Silver Ball for the tournament’s second-best player.

He became the then youngest player signed by an MLS club when he joined Los Angeles Galaxy aged 16 years and ten months but it was with Chicago Fire that he made his name during a four-and-a half season stay starting in 2000. It was there, alongside veterans Hristo Stoitchkov and Peter Nowak, that Beasley took his first steps toward future stardom.

Pitted against tough old pros, the left winger was finally put to the test physically. In his first season he played a pivotal role in getting the Fire to the play-offs – where he earned the dubious statistic of being the most-fouled player. In three further full seasons in the US, Beasley became one of the best and most recognised players in the league.

His progress did not go unnoticed by national team coach Bruce Arena either, who handed him his first cap against China in 2001. After scoring twice for the U20s at that year’s FIFA World Youth Championship, Beasley soon became a crucial member of the senior team that secured qualification for the FIFA World Cup™ in 2002, booking his spot in the squad for the Far East finals with some impressive performances in CONCACAF qualifying. In Korea/Japan, he played in all three of the USA’s first-round matches against Portugal, Korea Republic and Poland.

The following summer Beasley appeared at the FIFA Confederations Cup in France, scoring the US team’s only goal of the tournament and catching the attention of European scouts. Before long he was accepting an offer to join Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven as a replacement for the Chelsea-bound Arjen Robben and in summer 2004 he made the move to Europe.

Beasley made an immediate impact with his new employers, scoring on his debut in a 5-2 victory over RBC Roosendaal. That was one of six goals in 29 league appearances as PSV took the Eredivisie title Beasley also played his part as PSV reached the UEFA Champions League semi-final against AC Milan but missed the second-leg defeat through injury and subsequently sat out the Dutch Cup final.

One of only a handful of US players thriving overseas, he is nicknamed ‘Jitterbug’ for his ability to wriggle his way out of tough spots on the pitch and – at the ripe old age of 23 - is likely to be one of Arena’s most potent weapons in Germany.