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Cristo Fernández, the actor who captivated viewers worldwide on the hit series Ted Lasso with the line “Soccer is life!”, has become a professional soccer player at 35.
On May 13, USL Championship side El Paso Locomotive FC confirmed on its official social channels that the rumors were true: it had signed Cristo Fernández, 35, who appeared on the popular TV show ‘Ted Lasso.’
The club had teased fans the day before the announcement by posting a video of someone believed to be Fernández visiting the home stadium.
Born in Mexico, Fernández portrayed Dani Rojas, a Mexican striker, on the show.
In real life, he honed his skills with the youth team of Mexico’s Tecos FC, but a serious injury at 15 forced him to give up his dream of going pro and pushed him toward acting.
Still passionate about the game, he spent roughly two months in an intensive trial with El Paso and earned a spot on the roster, staging a dramatic return to professional soccer.
After signing, Fernández told the club, ‘The dream of becoming a professional never left my heart. I’m grateful to the club, the coaching staff and the players who gave me this opportunity.’
His unlikely transition from actor to pro athlete has drawn attention in U.S. media and among soccer fans, celebrated as a story of sportsmanship and perseverance.
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