Whether on or off screen, football is life for “Ted Lasso” breakout star Cristo Fernández.
Fernández, known for portraying the charismatic striker Dani Rojas on Apple TV’s football comedy-drama, has reportedly been on trial with El Paso Locomotive since late February in hopes of returning to professional football.
The Locomotive play in the United States’ second-tier United Soccer League (USL) Championship.
Fernández appeared for 30 minutes for the Texas-based team as they defeated New Mexico United in a pre-season friendly on February 28, according to a Goal.com report cited by ESPN.
Fernández was expected to learn his fate with Othoniel “Junior” Gonzalez’s side in mid-March, although no official offer has been announced as of this writing.
Until then, he is not allowed to speak with the media in line with USL’s rules.
Before trialling with the Locomotive, Fernández trained with the Major League Soccer Next Pro’s Chicago Fire II for a few weeks early this year, and pulled off a brace in a recent friendly against USL League One’s Forward Madison.
Full-circle moment
Born in Mexico, Fernández always knew he wanted to be a professional footballer.
At 15, he joined Guadalajara’s Club Deportivo Estudiantes Tecos, but his debut on the pitch was cut short due to a knee injury.
He played for Puerto Rico’s top division club Guayama in his early 20s before moving to London to pursue his studies.
There, he discovered his love for acting and starred in several independent films.
In 2020, he eventually booked a role on “Ted Lasso”, which led him back to his first love: football.
The show, starring Jason Sudeikis in the titular role, follows a Kansas coach hired to manage the fictional English Premier League outfit AFC Richmond.
Its fourth season is set to premiere in August this year.
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In an Instagram video posted on March 9, Fernández said he turned his hardship in the past into motivation to chase his childhood dream once again.
“Touching that low point in my life gave me the fuel to come back, shift my mindset, and feel stronger. Now it’s just like my mum says, ‘Good and bad, everything happens for a reason.’ So, trust the process and keep trying your best because you can do it,” the 35-year-old said.
“It hasn’t been easy to go back to playing professionally. I know it’s a work in progress getting back in the game, especially when it’s professional, training at a high performance-level, but I know I can do it, and I believe in myself. … I’m ready for what’s next,” he added.
Fútbol Is Life!
Aside from being a footballer and an actor, Fernández is also an author.
His children’s book — “Fútbol Is Life! / ¡Fútbol Es Vida!” — will hit the shelves in July 2026 via Scholastic Inc.
It is inspired by Fernández’s life in his hometown of Guadalajara in Mexico, and explores “themes of being open to change and discovering new passions” when things take an unexpected turn, according to the book’s publisher.
“Fútbol Is Life! / ¡Fútbol Es Vida!” follows a young boy named Cristobalito who enjoys football until an injury forces him to stop playing.
Its synopsis reads: “Cristobalito and his soccer ball go everywhere together in his Mexican hometown of Guadalajara, Jalisco … until an injury leaves him sidelined. Without the ball at his feet, Cristo looks around. Could his grandmother teach him the art of making tamales? Could his sister show him a whole new way of moving, like ballet? What else has he been missing?”
Through the book, Fernández hopes to inspire both children and grown-ups to dream big and step out of their comfort zone.
“Especially in times when the world feels heavy, I hope it reminds families that staying open, trying new things, working hard, and dreaming big can always move us forward,” he said in a statement to People magazine in December last year.
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