SAN DIEGO -- Jozy Altidore is poised to make his 100th international appearance for the United States when the Americans take on Serbia on Sunday at Qualcomm Stadium.
"I'm a little bit old," Altidore, still just 27, joked when asked by a reporter before the U.S. trained on Saturday afternoon what the century of caps meant.
"It was my dream as a kid to represent the United States and play on the biggest stages against some of the best players in the world, and to have done that over this span and have that culminate to one game like this is exciting.
"I'm excited to reach that milestone."
Altidore has played in two World Cups and scored 37 times for the U.S. Things, however, haven't always gone smoothly for the New Jersey-born, Florida raised striker since he made his professional debut for the New York Red Bulls at 16.
He missed most of Brazil 2014 because of a hamstring tear, an ailment that also forced him to miss all or most of two CONCACAF Gold Cups and last summer's Copa America Centenario.
He's also bounced around at club level, playing for seven teams in five countries before landing with Toronto FC in 2015. He helped TFC reach the playoffs for the first time that season and last month led them to the 2016 MLS Cup, which they lost to the Seattle Sounders on penalty kicks.
He's also matured; on Saturday, U.S. coach Bruce Arena named him one of the team's leaders along with older veterans like Michael Bradley and Jermaine Jones.
"He's come a long way," Arena, who gave Altidore his first professional start 11 years ago while at the Red Bulls helm, said during his prematch news conference.
"He's had a lot of experiences over the years, his experiences in Europe have been good for him and I think coming back to MLS he's embraced that [leadership role]."
Sporting Kansas City midfielder Benny Feilhaber, who played alongside Altidore on the 2008 U.S. Olympic team, has noted his evolution over the years.
"He's always been very happy, very excited to be on the field, almost like a kid," Feilhaber said.
"He's still kind of like that. Obviously every player matures with experience and playing in so many different countries as he has, I think there's no doubt about it that he's changed in that sense. But he's still the same kid I think."