Ted Lasso Actor Shocks Soccer World with Real USL Tryout, Pro Contract Within Reach
Cristo Fernández, widely recognized for portraying Dani Rojas in the popular Apple TV series Ted Lasso, is currently undergoing trials with USL Championship club El Paso Locomotive FC—and may secure a deal that would transform his fictional role into genuine reality.
The 35-year-old performer featured for 30 minutes during El Paso's preseason match, according to GOAL, and was photographed celebrating alongside his new teammates after the game. The United Soccer League club is now anticipated to reach a verdict regarding Fernández's professional prospects ahead of this weekend's regular season opener.
Sources indicate that El Paso hasn't been the sole team where Fernández has accumulated playing time in recent weeks. ESPN reports that the performer also appeared for Chicago Fire II lately, managing to find the net during a preseason exhibition match.
The individual who portrayed the striker for Premier League club AFC Richmond in the beloved television series might now fulfill that same role in reality within America's second division, achieving an ambition he harbored long before pursuing his acting career.
Injuries Denied Cristo Fernandez Soccer Dream
Injuries Denied Cristo Fernandez Soccer Dream
Originally from Guadalajara, Mexico, Fernández developed a passion for soccer during his youth and aspired to become a professional athlete as a youngster. During his teenage years, he appeared to be progressing toward that goal, until circumstances changed dramatically.
"I was part of Estudiantes Tecos (a former Liga MX team that no longer exists)," Fernández shared with ESPN in 2020. "I competed in the third tier, then second division, but physical setbacks forced me to reconsider many aspects. I eventually played in Puerto Rico's top flight and came close to qualifying for the Concacaf Champions Cup."
Fernández had a stint with Guayama FC in Puerto Rico, according to the Los Angeles Times, before relocating to the United Kingdom to earn a graduate degree in performance arts. Subsequently came Ted Lasso, which reconnected Fernández with the sport that captivated him during his formative years.
"From childhood, the first activity I engaged in once I could walk was playing soccer, like many of us from Mexico," Fernández explained to Grupo Formula in 2021. "However, I later wanted to completely abandon soccer because it became something that caused me pain [after abandoning his professional aspirations].
"It was something I chased and circumstances didn't unfold as I hoped. But despite my efforts to distance myself, soccer found its way back to me [via Ted Lasso] and here we stand, that's destiny, isn't it?"
Numerous athletes have successfully transitioned into acting careers. Now, Fernández is attempting to become among the rare actors who transition into professional athletics, emulating the path of the player who inspired his Ted Lasso character.
The Inspiration of Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez
The Inspiration of Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez
Fernández's Ted Lasso character, Rojas, similar to numerous others in the series, draws inspiration from actual players. Regarding Rojas, he's modeled after iconic Mexican forward Javier "Chicharito" Hernández, according to IMDB.
"They ultimately assigned me the No. 14 jersey that Chicharito previously wore, individuals in [Ted Lasso's] production team frequently referenced him," Fernández remembered.
Beyond donning number 14, Rojas, similar to Chicharito, is also a forward from Guadalajara, Mexico and notably scores a goal using his face—mirroring Hernández's memorable strike for Manchester United against Chelsea during the 2010 FA Community Shield.
Should Fernández's actual scoring prowess match either Chicharito's abilities or his Ted Lasso persona, then he possesses excellent prospects of securing that inaugural professional agreement.