Updated through December 12, 2020
Columbus (2020): Zardes made 21 regular-season appearances (20 starts at forward). The striker made his 2020 regular-season debut as a starter on Opening Match against New York City FC (March 1), before starting on the road against Seattle Sounders FC (March 7), where he scored his first goal of the season in the 34th minute. During the Group Stage of the MLS is Back Tournament, Zardes started against FC Cincinnati* (July 11), scoring in the 30th minute and again in the 49th minute. He started against the New York Red Bulls* (July 16) and scored the opening goal in the 22nd minute, before starting against Atlanta United* (July 21). Zardes started each game of the MLS is Back Tournament, including the Round of 16 match against Minnesota United FC (July 28), where he scored a late 79th-minute goal. The forward started at home against Chicago Fire FC (August 20), netting his fifth goal of the regular-season in the 88th minute and providing his first assist of the 2020 regular-season on Darlington Nagbe's 81st-minute goal. He then started on the road at New York City FC (August 24). Zardes then started on the road against FC Cincinnati (August 29) and at home against Philadelphia Union (September 2) before making a substitute appearance and netting two goals (64', 71') at home against FC Cincinnati (September 6), earning MLS Team of the Week honors for his week-10 performance. Gyasi scored a goal and provided an assist in two consecutive matches - at Chicago Fire FC (September 12) and at home against Nashville SC (September 19) - before starting at home against Minnesota United FC (September 23). He earned MLS Team of the Week honors for the third time this season after his performance against the Fire on September 12. The forward then made five consecutive starts from September 27 through October 18, notably scoring at home against the Montreal Impact (October 7) and at home against New York City FC (October 18) - his 43rd Crew regular-season goal, claiming sole possession of fifth all-time in scoring for the Black & Gold. Zardes was sidelined for two matches due to injury before making consecutive starts: at home against the Philadelphia Union (November 1) and on the road at Orlando City SC (November 4). He then started at home and scored the game-winning goal against Atlanta United (November 8), netting his 12th goal of the regular-season. In Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs action, the forward made four starts at home: against the New York Red Bulls (November 21) - where he scored the game-winning goal - against Nashville SC (November 29), scoring another goal and providing an assist before making starts against the New England Revolution (December 6) and Seattle Sounders FC (December 12) during MLS Cup 2020.
* MLS is Back Tournament Group Stage matches counted towards the 2020 MLS regular season
2019 (Columbus): Gyasi Zardes made 28 regular-season appearances (all starts as a striker) in 2019, scoring 13 goals and providing two assists. He made his 2019 regular-season debut in a home match against the New York Red Bulls (March 2). Zardes recorded his first brace of the 2019 regular-season, scoring two goals in a road match against the New England Revolution (March 9). Following his two goals, Zardes was named to MLSSoccer.com’s Team of the Week for his performance against the Revs. He did not make an appearance during a road contest against the Philadelphia Union (March 23) due to an international call up with the U.S. Men’s National Team. Zardes returned to the Black & Gold lineup during a home match against Atlanta United (April 30) where he recorded his third goal of the season. He registered his fourth goal of the season during a home match against the LA Galaxy (May 8) as well as his first regular season assist for Crew SC. On May 13, he signed a multi-year contract extension with the Crew. Zardes registered his fifth and six goals of the season by way of a road contest against the Colorado Rapids (May 25) and during a home contest against New York City FC (June 1). Zardes earned a call-up to the U.S. Men’s National Team and did not make an appearance in Crew SC’s match against Sporting Kansas City (June 23). Zardes returned to the starting lineup for Crew SC during a road contest against Orlando City SC (July 13). During a road contest against the Chicago Fire (July 17), Zardes tallied his seventh goal of the 2019 regular-season. He recorded his eight goal of the 2019 regular-season during a road contest against the San Jose Earthquakes (August 3). Zardes converted on a penalty kick during a home contest against FC Cincinnati (August 10). He recorded his second brace of the 2019 regular-season during a road contest against FC Cincinnati (August 25). Zardes was named to MLSSoccer.com’s Team of the Week for the third time this season, following his performance against FC Cincinnati. He recorded his 12th goal of the 2019 regular-season during a road contest against Atlanta United (September 14). Zardes scored his 13th goal of the season in a road contest against Vancouver Whitecaps FC (September 21). He did not make an appearance in the 2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup due to being on international duty with the U.S. Men’s National team. Zardes earned Crew SC's 2019 Golden Boot Award for the second consecutive year.
2018 (Columbus): Gyasi Zardes made 33 regular-season appearances (all starts as a forward), scoring 19 goals. He scored a goal while playing all 90 minutes during the first match of the season on the road against Toronto FC (March 3), his Crew SC debut. In the home opening match against the Montreal Impact (March 10), Zardes recorded a brace, including a game-winning penalty kick goal in the 90+4 minute. Zardes was named to MLSSoccer.com’s Team of the Week following his two goal performance against Montreal. He also played all 90 minutes against the Philadelphia Union (March 17) and D.C. United (March 24). He scored his fourth goal of the season in a home match against Vancouver Whitecaps FC (March 31), and he scored his fifth goal of the season in a home match against the New England Revolution (April 21). Zardes recorded his 125th MLS start in a home match against the San Jose Earthquakes (April 28). He scored his six goal of the season in a home match against the Philadelphia Union (May 9). The goal was also his second game-winning goal of the 2018 MLS regular season. In the following match against the Chicago Fire (May 12), Zardes recorded a brace. Zardes’ performances against the Union and the Fire earned him a MLSSoccer.com’s Team of the Week, and Alcatel Player of the Week honors. Zardes scored his 9th goal of the season in a home match against Toronto FC (June 2). In a home match against the New York Red Bulls (June 9), he scored his 10th goal of the season, and extended his streak of consecutive home matches with a goal to four. After starting in matches against Atlanta United FC (June 13) and Los Angeles FC (June 23), Zardes scored his second pnalty kick goal of the season in a home match against Real Salt Lake (June 30). He started in an international friendly at home against Costa Rican side Deportivo Saprissa (July 3), scoring a goal in the 28th minute of the match. In a home match against Orlando City SC (July 21), Zardes recorded his third brace of the 2018 MLS regular-season, scoring in the 51st and 88th minute. In a home match against the Houston Dynamo (August 11), Zardes scored the game-winning goal in the first-minute of second-half stoppage time, and he was named to MLSSoccer.com’s Team of the Week for his efforts. The follwoing week, he scored a goal in a road match against Atlanta United FC (August 19). The following week, he scored a goal in a road match against Atlanta United FC (August 19). Zardes made two appearances for the U.S. Men’s National Team in friendlies against Brazil (September 7) and Mexico (September 11). After returning from international duty, Zardes started in consecutive matches from a road contest against FC Dallas (September 15) to a road match against Orlando City SC (October 21). Against the Colorado Rapids (September 22), he scored his 16th goal of the 2018 MLS regular season and the 50th regular-season goal of his MLS career. n the final regular-season match of 2018, against Minnesota United FC (October 28), Zardes recorded his first career hat trick to bring his 2018 total to a career-high 19 goals. For his efforts, he was named to MLSSoccer.com’s Team of the Week, and named the Alcatel MLS Player of the Week for the second time in 2018. Zardes made three appearances (two starts as a forward and one start as a right midfielder) in the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs and scored one goal. He started in an Eastern Conference Knockout Round match against D.C. United (November 1). He scored the game-winning goal in Leg 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the New York Red Bulls (November 4) and started in Leg 2 (November 11). Zardes was named to the Gameday 18, but did not make an appearance in the 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
2017 (Los Angeles): Zardes made 24 regular-season appearances (23 starts) in 2017, registering six goals and five assists. He was twice selected for MLS Team of the Week. He suffered a season-ending foot injury in August that kept him from making more appearances. He made his season debut in a home contest against FC Dallas (March 4).
2016 (Los Angeles): Zardes made 19 regular-season appearances (17 starts) in 2016, registering six goals and a career-high five assists. He made his season debut in a March 6, 4-1 home victory over D.C. United. He was twice selected for MLS Team of the Week. Zardes suffered a season-ending foot injury in August that kept him from making more appearances.
2015 (Los Angeles): Zardes made 29 regular-season appearances (27 starts) in 2015, registering six goals and four assists. He made his season debut in a 2-0 home victory against the Chicago Fire (March 6). Zardes ranked third amongst his teammates in MLS regular-season minutes played, helping his team to a seventh straight MLS Cup Playoffs appearance. He recorded one goal and one assist in the Galaxy’s loss to Seattle Sounders FC in and MLS Cup Playoffs match (October 28).
2014 (Los Angeles): Zardes made 32 regular-season appearances (26 starts), tallying a career-high 16 goals while providing two assists. He made his season debut in a home contest against Real Salt Lake (March 8). Zardes set a Homegrown Player record for goals scored during a single MLS regular season. He scored the opening goal in the club’s 2-1 MLS Cup victory over the New England Revolution (December 7) to help the Galaxy win their fifth MLS Cup title, becoming the first Homegrown Player to accomplish this feat.
2013: Zardes signed with the LA Galaxy as a Homegrown Player on December 20, 2012. He made 27 regular-season appearances (23 starts) during his rookie year, tallying four goals and four assists. Zardes made his first team debut against Real Salt Lake (April 27), coming on for Jack McBean on the 53rd minute. He scored his first goal on his third first team appearance against Vancouver Whitecap FC (May 11). Zardes finished his first season starting in 23 games out of 27 appearances, where he tallied four goals and four assists. Additionally, he started twice in the MLS Cup Playoffs. He finished fourth in MLS Rookie of the Year voting.
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
As of February 1, 2020
Zardes has been a prominent member of the U.S. Men’s National team, earning 56 caps while tallying 12 goals and nine assists since making his debut in a friendly against Chile in 2015. He scored his first goal for the Stars and Stripes in a 4-3 win against the Netherlands on June 5, 2015 (January 28). Zardes scored his first National team brace coming nearly three years ago in a friendly against Bolivia (May 18, 2016). Zardes earned a cap in a 2-1 victory over Jamaica in the 2017 Gold Cup on July 27. On January 8 of 2018, he was among the players called up by Dave Sarachan for the U.S. Men’s January Camp. He featured in a friendly match as a starter against Bosnia-Herzegovina on January 28, 2018 and in a friendly against Brazil on September 7, 2018. Zardes then started in a friendly against Mexico on September 11, 2018. Zardes then started in back to back friendlies against Panama (January 27) and Costa Rica (February 2). The forward made consecutive starts for the U,S, in a pair of friendlies, scoring a game-winning goal against Ecuador (March 21) and providing an assist against Chile (March 26). Zardes made two consecutive starts for the U.S. Men’s National team during the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup; during the opening match against Guyana (June 18) Zardes scored a 55th minute goal for the Stars and Stripes. Zardes also recorded his second career brace for the U.S. against Trinidad and Tobago (June 22) helping the U.S. win 6-0. He made substitute appearances against Panama (June 28) and Jamaica (June 30). He returned to the starting lineup for the Stars & Stripes against Curacao (June 30). Zardes made a substitute appearance during the final of the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup against Mexico (July 7). He returned to the starting lineup for the Stars & Stripes during a friendly against Mexico (September 6) and made a substitute appearance during a friendly against Uruguay (September 10). Gyasi featured for the U.S. in a Concacaf League of Nations group stage match against Canada (October 15, 2019). He returned to the starting lineup for the Stars and Stripes in a Concacaf League of Nations group stage match against Canada (November 15), recording a brace in a 4-1 victory. His latest cap came in a 2020 friendly against Costa Rica (February 1).
Zardes attended Cal State University Bakersfield from 2009-2012, making 56 appearances while tallying 33 goals and 18 assists. He sat out the 2009 season as a redshirt before debuting for the Roadrunners in 2010, tallying five goals and a team-best seven assists. In 2011, the forward scored 18 times in 20 games, leading the Roadrunners to a berth in the NCAA Division I Tournament for the first time in school history en route to being selected the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Player of the Year. He was also a semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy in 2011, an award given annually to the top player in college soccer. In 2012, Zardes followed up his breakout season by scoring 15 goals and adding nine assists – team-highs – in 17 games, while helping the Roadrunners record a winning record for the fourth consecutive season.
Zardes played for the Galaxy Academy Under-18 side during the 2008-09 and 2009-10 Development Academy seasons, as well as with the Galaxy U-20 squad in the 2009 and 2010 USL Super-20 campaigns.
Columbus Crew SC acquired forward Gyasi Zardes and $400,000 in Targeted Allocation Money from the LA Galaxy in exchange for forward Ola Kamara on January 20, 2018.
Name: Gyasi Zardes (pronounced: JAH-see sar-DES)
Position: Forward
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 187
Born: September 2, 1991 in Los Angeles, California
Hometown: Hawthorne, California
Citizenship: United States
Acquired: Acquired by Crew SC from the LA Galaxy in exchange for forward Ola Kamara
Previous Experience: LA Galaxy (2013-2017)
Zardes lives with his wife, Madison. The couple have three children. During his free time, Zardes enjoys reading books, particularly educational books about finances. In addition to soccer, he plays golf in his free time. Zardes plays video games, particularly the FIFA and Call of Duty franchises. His favorite actors are Will Smith, Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg. Zardes listens to all types of music and plays his guitar in his spare time. His favorite dish is chicken parmesan. Zardes’ favorite place to go to is the beach. Zardes previously played with current teammate Hector Jimenez at LA Galaxy in 2012. He speaks English and some Spanish.
