On This Day in 2018, the Defender Found the Net for His First Wolfsburg Goal in a Victory over Schalke
The summer of 2018 had been unusually quiet for American soccer. With the United States missing the World Cup for the first time since 1986, the global spotlight that typically elevates American players was absent. Instead of showcasing their talents on football's biggest stage in Russia, U.S. internationals were getting ready for another European season, mainly out of sight and mind from the broader soccer world.
For John Brooks, the period represented both opportunity and redemption. The towering center-back had endured a nightmare debut season at Wolfsburg following his record-breaking €20 million transfer from Hertha Berlin in 2017. Injuries had limited him to just 10 appearances, and the club barely escaped relegation through a playoff victory. As the new Bundesliga campaign approached, Brooks needed to prove his worth.
His moment arrived on August 25, 2018, at the Volkswagen Arena. In Wolfsburg's season opener against Schalke 04, Brooks delivered his most impactful performance since joining the club. The 25-year-old defender rose unmarked at the far post in the 33rd minute, meeting Maximilian Arnold's corner kick with a powerful header that opened the scoring against the previous season's runners-up.
The goal marked Brooks' first for Wolfsburg and came in his 100th Bundesliga appearance across his German career. Against a Schalke side featuring fellow American Weston McKennie, Brooks provided the foundation for what would become a dramatic 2-1 victory, sealed by Daniel Ginczek's stoppage-time winner after Schalke had equalized from the penalty spot.
It was a characteristically mixed performance from Brooks - his goal-scoring heroics tempered by the yellow card he received for dangerous play and his role in conceding the late penalty. The match itself descended into chaos, featuring eight yellow cards, VAR controversies, and a red card for Schalke's Matija Nastasic that helped swing momentum back toward the hosts.
For American soccer, Brooks' performance offered a crucial reminder of the talent pool's quality during a period of transition. With head coach Dave Sarachan preparing to name his roster for the upcoming friendlies against Brazil and Mexico, every strong showing from U.S. players abroad carried added weight. The program was rebuilding from the World Cup qualification failure, searching for leaders who could guide the next generation.
Brooks' commanding display against Champions League-bound Schalke demonstrated exactly the kind of impact American players could make when healthy and confident. After a frustrating first season in Wolfsburg, his breakthrough goal represented not just personal redemption, but a signal that the U.S. player pipeline in Europe remained robust despite the national team's absence from Russia.