CHICAGO — The man who could become the next American sports hero has Chicago roots.
John Brooks, who scored the game-winning goal in Team USA's 2-1 victory over Ghana in its first game of the World Cup in Brazil Monday, has family members from the city, including his father.
Brooks' father is a Chicago native and a former member of the U.S. military. Brooks has a tattoo on his right arm and elbow of Illinois with a star identifying Chicago. Brooks' mother is German, and he was born in Germany and plays professionally there.
He has never lived in the U.S., but visits Chicago to see some of his father's side of the family.
"I never lived [in the United States]. Only for visits with my family in Chicago, twice or something like that," Brooks told reporters last week.
The U.S. faces Portugal next on Sunday.
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