Cristo Fernández debuts for El Paso in USL Cup, yellow card

Actor Cristo Fernández, best known for his role as the exuberant footballer Dani Rojas on the television series "Ted Lasso," made his professional soccer debut on July 12, entering as a substitute for El Paso Locomotive FC in a USL Cup match against New Mexico United. The 35-year-old Mexican actor entered the scoreless game in the 79th minute but saw his new team concede two late goals in a 2-0 defeat that eliminated them from the tournament.

Fernández, who signed with the USL Championship club in May after a trial period, saw limited action in his debut. He recorded three touches and received a yellow card in the 87th minute for a collision with the opposing goalkeeper. Despite the loss, the appearance marked a significant personal milestone, fulfilling a long-deferred athletic dream.

His path to professional soccer began long before his acting career took off. As a teenager in Guadalajara, Mexico, Fernández trained with the youth academy of Liga MX club Tecos FC and later played professionally in Puerto Rico for Guayama. A serious knee injury ultimately ended his early playing aspirations, prompting a shift in focus toward acting.

Fernández's breakout role came when he was cast...