Cristo Fernández, the actor who plays exuberant striker Dani Rojas on “Ted Lasso,” made his professional soccer debut Saturday night, entering as a second-half substitute for El Paso Locomotive FC in a United Soccer League Cup match against New Mexico United. Fernández, 35, came on in the 79th minute for forward Rubio Rubín, wearing No. 91, and picked up a yellow card during the run of play as El Paso fell 2-0 in front of more than 5,000 fans at Southwest University Park.
The appearance closes a two-month trial period that began earlier this year, following an earlier stint training with MLS side Chicago Fire. El Paso signed Fernández to a contract in May after he impressed coaches during preseason work, including a prior friendly against the same New Mexico opponent. Locomotive head coach Junior Gonzalez said at the time that Fernández’s attacking instincts and leadership qualities made him a natural fit for the club’s roster and locker-room culture.
Fernández’s path to professional soccer traces back to his teenage years in Guadalajara, where he trained in the youth system of Liga MX club Tecos before a series of injuries derailed his playing career in his early twenties. He pivoted to acting after relocating to London, where he was later cast as Dani Rojas, the breakout comic and emotional heart of “Ted Lasso’s” AFC Richmond locker room. The role, known for the character’s catchphrase “football is life,” grew from a recurring part in the show’s first two seasons into a full main-cast position by season three.
Fernández described the return to competitive play as the culmination of a long-held dream in a statement issued around his signing, thanking the club and his teammates for the opportunity and invoking a Mexican phrase about pushing forward despite long odds. His soccer comeback comes as production continues on “Ted Lasso” season four, which began filming last summer and again features Jason Sudeikis alongside co-stars Hannah Waddingham and Brett Goldstein. Whether Dani Rojas returns for the new season has not been confirmed.
El Paso Locomotive currently sits fourth in the USL Championship’s Western Conference and ranks among the league’s top scoring teams heading into the second half of its season.
