7 July 2006 - It Was A Very Short Lifetime

On 7 July 2006, Once in a Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos premiered in New York City.

Directed by John Crowder and Paul Dower and narrated by Matt Dillon, the documentary chronicles the rise and fall of the Cosmos from their founding in 1971, through their heyday in the late '70s, to their collapse in 1984. 

Although Pelé, the Cosmos's most famous player, declined any involvement in the film (reportedly because the filmmakers would not pay his requested fee of $100,000), the directors did interview several other people from the club's history, including founding owner Ahmet Ertegun and a long list of Cosmos players such as Franz Beckenbauer, Giorgio Chinaglia, Shep Messing, and Werner Roth. Together, they described the club's meteoric rise from NASL expansion team to a global brand, driven primarily by the signing of Pelé in 1975.

After Pelé's retirement in 1977, the Cosmos began to suffer financial pressures due to dwindling crowds and the loss of monetary backing by the former parent company, Warner Communications. As the league imploded, the Cosmos tried a season of indoor football, but could not remain afloat and folded in 1985. 

9 October 1949 - Messing Makes His First Appearance In His Birthday Suit

On 9 October 1949, former US international and New York Cosmos goalkeeper Shep Messing was born in the Bronx, New York.

Messing first rose to prominence as the goalkeeper for New York University's football team, for whom he played during his freshman and sophomore years (1968-69). In his second season, he was named second team All-America. He transferred to Harvard University for his junior and senior years (1970-71), again earning second team All-America honors in 1971.

He joined the US national team at the 1971 Pan American games in Colombia and again for the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. His only appearance was a 7-0 loss to Germany in the United States' final group stage match of the Olympics.

Messing graduated from Harvard in 1973 and signed for the New York Cosmos of the NASL as a backup keeper. He appeared for them only nine times before being transferred to the Boston Minutemen in 1975. Reportedly, his transfer was partially due to the Cosmos management's unhappiness with his having posed for a nude photo shoot that appeared in Viva magazine. Messing later joked that the photo shoot gave the Cosmos more media exposure than they had received up to that point.

Messing rejoined the Cosmos in 1976 and was the starting keeper for the side that won the 1977 Soccer Bowl, alongside Pelé, Franz Beckenbauer, and Giorgio Chinaglia. He left New York after the 1977 season and played for several teams from 1978 to 1987, spending six years (1979-1984) with the Rochester Lancers/New York Arrows.

He is currently a broadcaster and analyst covering MLS and European matches.

7 July 2006 - It Was A Very Short Lifetime

On 7 July 2006, Once in a Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos premiered in New York City.

Directed by John Crowder and Paul Dower and narrated by Matt Dillon, the documentary chronicles the rise and fall of the Cosmos from their founding in 1971, through their heyday in the late '70s, to their collapse in 1984.

Although Pelé, the Cosmos's most famous player, declined any involvement in the film (reportedly because the filmmakers would not pay his requested fee of $100,000), the directors did interview several other people from the club's history, including founding owner Ahmet Ertegun and a long list of Cosmos players such as Franz Beckenbauer, Giorgio Chinaglia, Shep Messing, and Werner Roth. Together, they described the club's meteoric rise from NASL expansion team to a global brand, driven primarily by the signing of Pelé in 1975.


After Pelé's retirement in 1977, the Cosmos began to suffer financial pressures due to dwindling crowds and the loss of monetary backing by the former parent company, Warner Communications. As the league imploded, the Cosmos tried a season of indoor football, but could not remain afloat and folded in 1985. 


The film received favorable reviews from critics and fans, but has earned only a paltry $9,805 on its opening weekend, due in part to a limited release.

9 October 1949 - Messing Makes His First Appearance In His Birthday Suit

On 9 October 1949, future US international and New York Cosmos goalkeeper Shep Messing was born in the Bronx, New York.

Messing first rose to prominence as the goalkeeper for New York University's football team, for whom he played during his freshman and sophmore years (1968-69). In his second season, he was named second team All-America. He transferred to Harvard University for his junior and senior years (1970-71), again earning second team All-America honors in 1971.

He joined the US national team at the 1971 Pan American games in Colombia and again for the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. His only appearance was a 7-0 loss to Germany in the United States' final group stage match of the Olympics.

Messing graduated from Harvard in 1973 and signed for the New York Cosmos of the NASL as a backup keeper. He appeared for them only nine times before being transferred to the Boston Minutemen in 1975. Reportedly, his transfer was partially due to the Cosmos management's unhappiness with his having posed for a nude photo shoot that appeared in Viva magazine. Messing later joked that the photo shoot gave the Cosmos more media exposure than they had received up to that point.

Messing rejoined the Cosmos in 1976 and was the starting keeper for the side that won the 1977 Soccer Bowl, alongside Pelé, Franz Beckenbauer, and Giorgio Chinaglia. He left New York after the 1977 season and played for several teams from 1978 to 1987, spending six years (1979-1984) with the Rochester Lancers/New York Arrows.

He is currently a broadcaster and analyst covering the MLS and European matches.