By Lechelle Barron
Jean Beausejour, an Afro-Chilean (Afro Chileno) fútbolista (Footballer), was a member of the national team to win Chile’s second consecutive Copa América Centenario title against Argentina on June 26, at the MetLife Stadium in Rutherford, New Jersey. Chile beat Argentina (4-2) in the final match.
During last year’s match, Beausejour played with the Chilean team at the 2015 Copa América, and won the first ever title of Chile in the tournament. Beausejour is the first Chilean ever to score in two consecutive World Cup finals. He is one of the few successful black fútbolistas in Chile. He joined Chile’s national team in 2004, and has scored 6 goals.
Beausejour’s professional club career started at Universidad Católica. In 2004, he signed a one year contract with Switzerland’s Servette team, and later signed another deal in 2005, with the Brazilian Grêmio, and helped the team to win the Série B title. Beausejour briefly played for the Belgian team KAA Gent in 2006, before returning to Chile to sign with the Cobreloa in 2007. He has also played for other club teams in Mexico and England.
Beausejour was born on June 1, 1984, to a Haitian father and a Chilean mother in Santiago, Chile.
