After 30 seasons in the MLS, the Colorado Rapids will retire their second jersey number ever.
The honor will go to club legend and Rapids original defender Marcelo Balboa, whose No. 17 will be retired Aug. 16 during a home game against Atlanta United.
Former Rapids midfielder and head coach Pablo Mastroeni’s No. 25 is the only other Rapids jersey to be retired.
The ceremony will be one of many events in Major League Soccer’s 30th season celebration, the team announced Tuesday. The club was one of the original 10 in the league’s inaugural 1996 season. Balboa was the leader and the heartbeat of the team.
Balboa played in Colorado for six of his seven years in the MLS before being traded to the New York MetroStars in 2002. He played only five minutes that season due to injury, then retired at the age of 35.
With the Rapids, he racked up 24 goals and 23 assists in 151 appearances, solid numbers for a center back. His accolades include spots in the Colorado Sports and U.S. Soccer Halls of Fame, a place in the club’s gallery of honor and five MLS All-Star nods. In 2005, he was named to the MLS’s All-Time Best XI.
After the club finished dead last in the league in its inaugural season, Balboa led the Rapids to their first MLS Cup a year later in 1997. They lost, 2-1, to D.C. United.
Before joining the Rapids, Balboa became the first American to surpass 100 caps for the U.S. men’s national team. He appeared in three straight World Cups (1990, 1994, 1998) before finishing his career with 128 total appearances for the country.
After retirement, Balboa became a color analyst for Altitude TV for Rapids broadcasts and served as a Rapids Academy coach for some time.
Following the Aug. 16 match and the jersey retirement, a fireworks show will be hosted at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
All season long, there will be commemorative art on the south wall outside the stadium as a “visual tribute to the players, fans and moments that have defined the club’s three decades in MLS,” according to a club press release.
“This year marks a historic milestone for our club as we celebrate 30 years in Major League Soccer,” Rapids president Pádraig Smith said in the release. “Over the past three decades, we’ve built a legacy filled with unforgettable moments, iconic players and the unwavering support of our incredible fans. This anniversary is an opportunity to honor our history, celebrate our growth and look ahead to an exciting future for the Rapids and soccer in Colorado. We’re excited to share this celebration with everyone by hosting special commemorative events throughout the season.”
The release also announced a partnership with Glory Studio to create a coffee-table book full of club photography and interviews from throughout the club’s history. Sprinkled throughout the 2025 season, the club plans to release various bits of video, written and social content about key moments in its history.
The press release also said additional announcements will be made throughout the season regarding giveaways, limited-edition gear and special events.
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