Cristo Fernández has traded Hollywood scripts for soccer cleats. The actor who played Dani Rojas on Apple TV's Ted Lasso signed a professional contract with El Paso Locomotive, the second-tier USL Championship club, after a two-month trial period that included a preseason appearance.
The move caps a lifelong journey back to the sport. Fernández played youth soccer in Mexico but abandoned the game at 15 after a knee injury ended what he thought would be his athletic future. While building an acting career, the 35-year-old never let go of the professional football dream.
Earlier this year, Fernández trained with the reserves of Chicago Fire, an MLS franchise, as he worked toward returning to competitive play. El Paso, a club founded in 2018, became the landing spot after he impressed during his extended trial period.
"Football has always been a huge part of my life and identity and no matter where life has taken me the dream of competing professionally never truly left my heart," Fernández said in a statement. "Maybe I'm just a crazy man with crazy dreams."
El Paso head coach Junior Gonzalez welcomed the signing, citing Fernández's attacking ability and presence in the locker room. "Cristo is a great addition to our roster, adding another attacking threat to our forward line," Gonzalez said. "His passion for the game and leadership qualities for our locker room allow us to continue growing the positive culture we strive for as a club."
The club currently sits fourth in Group B of the USL Championship standings. Fernández becomes the latest crossover figure trying to blur the line between entertainment and sports, though his path is distinct: he's not leveraging fame for an athletic opportunity, but rather returning to a childhood passion that injury once interrupted.
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