"Football is life" for Ted Lasso actor Cristo Fernandez.
That level of commitment has finally paid off this Sunday, when the 35‑year‑old Mexican marked his first professional appearance for El Paso Locomotive, a club in the USL Championship, the second tier of American soccer.
After an intense two‑month trial that began in May, Fernandez earned a contract with the Texas‑based side and was subbed into the match against rival New Mexico United in the 79th minute. The game ended 2‑0 in favour of the Mendo‑New team and Fernandez received a yellow card at 87 minutes following a foul on their goalkeeper Kris Shakes.
Fernandez’s story is one of ups and downs. He grew up playing junior football in Guadalajara, but a knee injury at 15 forced him to step away from the sport. While living in London he landed a role in the award‑winning series Ted Lasso, playing the supporting character Dani Rojas. He never forgot soccer, however, and the dream of playing again never left him.
"This journey back to professional soccer is about believing in yourself, taking risks, and continuing to chase your dreams no matter how unexpected the path may be," Fernandez told reporters after his debut.
His on‑field return comes just before the premiere of a fourth season of Ted Lasso on Apple TV, set to begin on 5 August.
