• Faith: Christian
• Career: Athlete
• Birthday:  March 28, 2000

Chris Richards was born on March 28, 2000, in Birmingham, Alabama. He is the son of Ken and Carrie Richards. The Richards also have two younger children, Mackenzie and Christian Richards.

As a young athlete Chris decided not to follow in his father's footsteps. Ken, a former basketball player, introduced Chris to the game. However, a passion for soccer captures Chris's heart despite it not being a popular sport among Black Americans. Chris began playing soccer as a toddler and officially set out to pursue a professional career, joining Texans SC Houston as a teenager.

In 2017, Richards joined the elite FC Dallas Academy and went on to win the USSDA U-18/19 National Championship with the program. His commanding defensive presence earned him a professional Homegrown Player contract with FC Dallas in April 2018. Before ever making a senior MLS appearance, his rapid development caught the eye of European scouts, leading to a move to Germany with Bundesliga giants FC Bayern Munich. Richards went on to make 10 first-team appearances for Bayern's senior squad while anchoring their reserve side. To maximize his top-flight minutes, he completed two highly successful loan spells with TSG Hoffenheim, where he made 34 appearances and fully established himself on the European stage.

Upset with a lack of consistent playing time in Germany, Richards made a high-profile move to the English Premier League by joining Crystal Palace. His defensive resilience quickly made him an indispensable anchor for the Eagles, earning him the club's Player of the Month honors in January 2023. Richards played a pivotal role in piloting Crystal Palace through the most successful period in club history, securing the 2025 FA Cup, the 2025 FA Community Shield, and culminating in an iconic 2025–26 UEFA Conference League title. Over his first seven seasons of elite European club play, the reliable American center-back has proved to be an efficient aerial threat and an elite defensive presence, combining timely attacking contributions with exceptional reading of the game.

Along with Crystal Palace, Chris also plays for the United States Men's National Team (USMNT). The USMNT is fresh off a 4-1 win over Paraguay in their first group stage match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. While Chris didn't score a goal, he completed 83 of 83 passes during the match. His other accomplishments with the USMNT include winning back-to-back CONCACAF Nations League titles (2023 and 2024) and being named the 2025 U.S Soccer Male Player of the Year. He was also selected as one of the members of the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI. In seven seasons with the USMNT, Chris has 2 goals, 6 interceptions, 6 tackles won, and 45.5% of his shots are on target.

Off the field, Chris is a devoted father to his daughter, Luna. He also loves spending time with his family, especially his girlfriend (though he keeps her name private).

Beyond his athletic achievements, Richards is deeply committed to servant leadership and community outreach. At the conclusion of the 2023–24 season, Crystal Palace honored him with the Professional Footballer's Association (PFA) Community Champions Award, recognizing his extensive volunteer work with the local Palace for Life Foundation. From leading educational workshops in local schools to championing inclusive community sports programs alongside women's team captain Aimee Everett, Richards consistently uses his global platform to mentor youth. For Chris, giving back is an essential responsibility, reflecting his core belief that true success is measured by treating every individual with inherent dignity, compassion, and respect.

True to his roots, Richards' commitment to community service runs deep in his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama. In April 2026, he partnered with FIFA, the U.S. Soccer Federation, and local professional club Birmingham Legion FC, in which he holds an ownership stake, to open the very first 'FIFA Arena Mini-Pitch' in North America. Located at Birmingham's historic Powell Steam Plant, the facility represents a direct personal investment from Richards. Working alongside the USSF Soccer Forward Foundation, Richards continues to champion the development of accessible mini-pitches across the city, ensuring that children of all ages, socioeconomic backgrounds, and neighborhoods have a safe, high-quality environment to fall in love with the global game.

Chris Richards' Religion

Chris Richards' commitment to serving the community stems from core values gained through his Christian faith. His family attended a Southern Baptist Church when he was an adolescent. Despite regularly attending services, Chris viewed church as a social gathering rather than a place to grow closer to God with other believers.

That said, he credits his parents for teaching him about the importance of praying consistently. Chris learned to rely on this spiritual discipline to face life's challenges. Prayer has also helped him draw closer to God when he left America to play soccer overseas. During this time, he began seeking God for himself, realizing not everyone goes to church.

God rewarded his sincere seeking through the United States Men's National Team (USMNT). On the USMNT, he can pray with like-minded teammates and the team's chaplain, Andy Young.

Through this connection, he experiences the unity and fellowship that come with being a part of the Body of Christ. "Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind" (1 Peter 3:8, English Standard Version).