You hear the term "cap" thrown around all the time in soccer parlance. Often times, it'll be mentioned in an article or said by one of the television announcers:
Sean Franklin could win his first cap with the US National Team on Wednesday.
Joe-Max Moore announced his retirement from soccer with 100 caps with the US National Team.
Cobi Jones has more caps than any US player.
In each example, using the term "cap" is just another way to recognize a player for making an appearance for his/her respective National Team. So if a player has earned five caps for the US National Team, it means that the player has seen action in five games for the US.
While "cap" remains a popular term all over the world -- and is used in other sports such as cricket and rugby -- it is very outdated in its meaning. In fact, it dates back to 1886 when N. L. Jackson, founder of Corinthians FC, proposed that all players on the England National Team would receive silk white caps with a red rose on the front every time they played in an international game for their country
White caps were never awarded, though. Instead, royal blue caps made out of velvet were passed out to participating players after every game. The original caps kept the rose on the front, as was originally envisioned, and included the date of the game on the bill. Over the years, this has changed a bit, as the entire name of England's opponent is now sewn onto each cap, after the first initial of the team's opponent was used for several years during the 20th Century.
The caps are also decorated with a silver tassle hanging on the left side of the cap, and the famed three lions emblem has taken place of the rose on the front. While most caps remain in blue velvet, green caps have been used for special occasions in the past.
Though caps are still handed out after each friendly that England participates in, players receive only one cap -- no matter how many times they appear for their country -- over the course of a tournament such as a World Cup or Euro competition. As for the players who have earned the most international caps in their lifetime, no male or female has as many as US Women's National Team veteran Kristine Lilly. The left-footed midfielder has made 340 international appearances. Former US National Team midfielder Cobi Jones is the men's all-time leader with 164 caps, which also places him in a tie for fourth on the world's all-time list.
Former Saudi Arabian goalkeeper Mohamed Al-Deayea retired from international soccer after the 2006 World Cup with the most all-time caps for male players with 181.
