Blab Sports
From Classroom to Cosmos: The Unlikely Journey of Shep Messing
A Bronx‑born teacher turned midnight goalkeeper, Shep Messing’s path to the New York Cosmos was as unconventional as it was meteoric. Born in 1949, the Long Island native earned a degree from Harvard before returning home to teach at Westbury High School. While grading papers, he trained in secret after midnight, a practice that would land him on the roster of one of the United States’ most iconic soccer teams.
Messing’s rise was swift. In 1972 he was named to the U.S. Olympic soccer squad, a selection that, according to the New York Post, made him a two‑time All‑American in college and “the greatest soccer player that ever lived” in his own words. That same year he shared the field with future legends, foreshadowing the star‑studded future of the Cosmos.
The turning point came in December 1974 when Messing posed for a fully nude shoot in the women’s magazine Viva. The magazine paid him $5,000, and its cover appeared while he was still teaching and playing for the Cosmos. When Westbury’s principal discovered the photographs, Messing was dismissed from his teaching position and the club released him immediately. The Post reports that the Cosmos’ decision was made “on the spot,” underscoring how quickly the team’s image could shift.
The next year, however, the Cosmos’ fortunes changed. Chairman Steve Ross and Warner Communications signed Brazilian legend Pelé, a move that vaulted the club into the national spotlight. Attendance surged, and the team’s reputation grew. In 1976, when the Cosmos found themselves in need of a reliable goalkeeper, Pelé reportedly demanded Messing’s return. The club obliged, reinstating the former teacher and restoring his place between the posts.
With Pelé, the Cosmos assembled a roster that included Giorgio Chinaglia, Carlos Alberto, and Franz Beckenbauer. The squad played at Downing Stadium on Randall’s Island and later moved to Giants Stadium, where crowds swelled from a few hundred to more than 40,000 per game during the late 1970s. The high attendance and media attention were unprecedented for soccer in the United States, and the Cosmos became a cultural phenomenon.
Pelé’s farewell match in October 1977, a game against his former club Santos, marked the beginning of the decline of both the Cosmos and the North American Soccer League (NASL). The NASL operated from 1968 to 1984, peaking in popularity in the late 1970s before collapsing in 1985. This collapse ended the era of high‑profile soccer in the U.S. until Major League Soccer’s launch in 1996.
The Cosmos were revived in 2013 and played until 2020, then re‑established again in 2025. The current incarnation is based in Paterson, New Jersey, and competes in USL League One, a third‑tier professional league that began in 2019.
Messing’s story illustrates how a single player’s career can intersect with broader trends in American soccer. From a high school classroom to a stadium that once held 77,000 fans, his journey reflects the rise, fall, and rebirth of the sport in the United States.
Today, the Cosmos remain active in USL League One, and the legacy of the 1970s era continues to influence soccer culture in the country. As the U.S. hosts the 2026 World Cup, the history of teams like the Cosmos offers context for the growth of the game on American soil.
Messing’s rise was swift. In 1972 he was named to the U.S. Olympic soccer squad, a selection that, according to the New York Post, made him a two‑time All‑American in college and “the greatest soccer player that ever lived” in his own words. That same year he shared the field with future legends, foreshadowing the star‑studded future of the Cosmos.
The turning point came in December 1974 when Messing posed for a fully nude shoot in the women’s magazine Viva. The magazine paid him $5,000, and its cover appeared while he was still teaching and playing for the Cosmos. When Westbury’s principal discovered the photographs, Messing was dismissed from his teaching position and the club released him immediately. The Post reports that the Cosmos’ decision was made “on the spot,” underscoring how quickly the team’s image could shift.
The next year, however, the Cosmos’ fortunes changed. Chairman Steve Ross and Warner Communications signed Brazilian legend Pelé, a move that vaulted the club into the national spotlight. Attendance surged, and the team’s reputation grew. In 1976, when the Cosmos found themselves in need of a reliable goalkeeper, Pelé reportedly demanded Messing’s return. The club obliged, reinstating the former teacher and restoring his place between the posts.
With Pelé, the Cosmos assembled a roster that included Giorgio Chinaglia, Carlos Alberto, and Franz Beckenbauer. The squad played at Downing Stadium on Randall’s Island and later moved to Giants Stadium, where crowds swelled from a few hundred to more than 40,000 per game during the late 1970s. The high attendance and media attention were unprecedented for soccer in the United States, and the Cosmos became a cultural phenomenon.
Pelé’s farewell match in October 1977, a game against his former club Santos, marked the beginning of the decline of both the Cosmos and the North American Soccer League (NASL). The NASL operated from 1968 to 1984, peaking in popularity in the late 1970s before collapsing in 1985. This collapse ended the era of high‑profile soccer in the U.S. until Major League Soccer’s launch in 1996.
The Cosmos were revived in 2013 and played until 2020, then re‑established again in 2025. The current incarnation is based in Paterson, New Jersey, and competes in USL League One, a third‑tier professional league that began in 2019.
Messing’s story illustrates how a single player’s career can intersect with broader trends in American soccer. From a high school classroom to a stadium that once held 77,000 fans, his journey reflects the rise, fall, and rebirth of the sport in the United States.
Today, the Cosmos remain active in USL League One, and the legacy of the 1970s era continues to influence soccer culture in the country. As the U.S. hosts the 2026 World Cup, the history of teams like the Cosmos offers context for the growth of the game on American soil.
