Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
FRISCO, Texas — On the 20th anniversary of its inaugural season, Real Salt Lake finally has a representative in the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
Thirteen-year RSL veteran goalkeeper Nick Rimando was inducted into the Frisco, Texas, shrine Saturday in a ceremony that included USWNT greats Carli Lloyd and Mary Harvey and current Colorado Rapids head coach Chris Armas.
Rimando holds the Major League Soccer records for career wins, clean sheets, saves and overall appearances. He led RSL to an MLS Cup in 2009, when he made three saves in a penalty shootout win over the Los Angeles Galaxy and was named MLS Cup MVP.
The Southern California native came to Utah in 2007 after a college career at UCLA and early MLS stints with the Miami Fusion and D.C. United. He has remained in the Salt Lake area since his retirement in 2019 and has served as goalkeeper coach for both the RSL Academy and Real Monarchs in Herriman.
Rimando spoke directly to the next generation of soccer players in his speech on Saturday.
"Fight for what you want, work hard relentlessly and never let anyone define your limits," Rimando said. "People will doubt you; some will try to tear you down. Let the doubt be your fuel, not your ceiling. Believe in your journey, especially when it's hard. Because that's where greatness is built: not in comfort, but in the grind, resilience and refusal to quit.
"Let the doubt be your fuel, not your ceiling."@NickRimando's message to the next generation! pic.twitter.com/bMfs5amKKs
— National Soccer HOF (@soccerhof) May 3, 2025
"I stand here today, not because of the records or games I played, but because I never stopped believing — through the setbacks, the noise and the rejection," Rimando added. "If my story says anything, let it be this, 'You are always more than what they say you are.'"
At 5-foot-10 Rimando is shorter than just about every professional goalkeeper you will find in both MLS and around the world. In fact, RSL has not had a keeper shorter than 6 feet on its roster since the Hall of Famer's retirement six years ago.
Despite a perceived physical disadvantage, Rimando went on to numerous league records and is considered by many to be the greatest keeper in MLS history.
RSL will immortalize Rimando's name and number as part of its "Ring of Honor" at America First Field on June 14 against his former club, D.C. United.
