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Sandy • He stood in front of his locker as teammates razzed him on his 27th birthday. Tony Beltran had just returned to action, going the full 90 after missing three weeks with a bulging disc in his lower back. It was clear the admiration was masked by a little mockery.
Fellow defenders Nat Borchers and Chris Wingert told their friend and back line cohort that the years are starting to stack up for the kid from Claremont, Calif. Seven years into his professional career at Real Salt Lake, Beltran's now 7 for 7 in postseason appearances.
"It's not something that we really celebrate, because it's something we expect of ourselves," Beltran after RSL beat San Jose 2-0 to clinch another playoff berth.
It wouldn't be fair to call Beltran a perfectionist, but the expectation he carries for himself goes far beyond his success sustained in his career as a professional. He can still hear his father's voice: "Anything that you do, there's going to be somebody out there who is better than you, so you have to work harder than that person."
The right back has shouldered that advice since he entered the league at 19 as RSL's No. 3 overall pick out of UCLA in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft, the first ever draft pick of the Garth Lagerwey-Jason Kreis era.
Ask any one of Beltran's teammates and his name will be the first to come up as the gold standard of preparation, rest, nutrition, all of which come first. Wingert calls Beltran the "fittest guy on the team" without hesitation. The soccer comes easy to the Southern California native. It always has, although he chooses not to admit it.
"I understand the game, I know the fact that I'm not the most gifted player on the planet," Beltran said. "I know my strengths and weaknesses, so I put myself in the best position to succeed."
Wingert remembers watching Beltran play in college, both at St. John's and at UCLA. He began asking around St. John's — Wingert's alma mater — about the fastest kid on the field. The consensus was resounding, one that carried over into his career with RSL.
"He's always had the reputation of being such a great pro, even before he came here to this team," Wingert said.
His game has evolved, and still does. While his speed remains top-notch, he can no longer afford to solely rely on his instincts and athleticism in bail-out moments in a crucial times, although he remains one of the more versatile outside backs in MLS for that very reason. Wingert related Beltran's skill set to that of superstar Landon Donovan or former USMNT staple Frankie Hejduk as players who were both the fittest and fastest players on the field.
"I think he is the best right back in this league," Wingert said. "I'm sure there are other guys there with him, but it's my opinion, and I think he should be a national-team guy for the next 10 years."
The ongoing pursuit of national-team duty obviously motivates Beltran. The few days in camps leading up to games are described as both fleeting and addicting. He was part of the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup champions with RSL teammates Kyle Beckerman and Nick Rimando and played in a friendly in April with Mexico, assisting on a goal.
"I have to raise my game," he said. "I have to play better, to do better, to show that I'm worth that opportunity. Whether I get back there or not, it's a huge motivator to come back, to continue doing the things that got you there, to continue being a better soccer player."
Seven years have zipped by. Beltran still recalls stepping to the pulpit the day he was drafted, completely unprepared for a speech. Now he's another year further entrenched as part of the RSL core, thriving on consistency. He's helped RSL maintain one of the more stout defenses in MLS. He's played in 197 matches across all competitions since arriving, starting in 178 of them and logging more than 15,200 minutes.
"I want to win trophies and making a lasting impact," he said. "I want to do something meaningful. The first seven years have gone by in a blink of an eye. I need to stop taking things for granted. I had this conversation with Nat recently. Doing the same things every day can be monotonous, but they can also be competitive. It's about grasping each day with both hands."
Twitter: @chriskamrani —
About Tony Beltran
Age • 27
Position • Right back
Hometown • Claremont, Calif.
Pro career • Real Salt Lake (2008-present).
With RSL • Drafted by RSL No. 3 overall in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft.
Games played • 197 matches, 178 started across all competitions. —
Real Salt Lake at Portland Timbers
O Friday, 8 p.m.
TV • NBC Sports Network