Ted Lasso Just Became More Real Than Ever

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As a huge fan of Ted Lasso, I was thrilled to hear some real-world soccer news connected to the show! Apparently, a major football star has just signed with a USL Championship team in Texas. What’s really cool is that this marks the first time anyone from the Ted Lasso cast has actually played professional football – the kind the whole world knows and loves!

Okay, so this is kind of wild. I was a little surprised to hear that Cristo Fernández, who absolutely kills it as Dani Rojas on Ted Lasso, is now playing actual professional soccer for El Paso Locomotive. Look, Rojas is a highlight of that show, no doubt, but Fernández himself is a legitimately good footballer – way better than his character lets on! It feels a little strange that he’s the one making this career jump, honestly, when there are other actors who’ve really earned a big moment like this.

As a teenager, he was a skilled athlete and joined the youth system of Tecos, a top Mexican football club, at age 15. He dreamed of becoming a professional footballer, but a knee injury unfortunately ended that possibility. Fortunately, he was able to channel his athletic abilities into a different path.

Javier Fernández, who played a player on Ted Lasso’s AFC Richmond team, had a memorable on-screen rivalry with Jamie Tartt. Now that his character’s story arc has finished, and with Dani Rojas’ storylines also complete, he won’t be needed for a major role in the show’s fourth season. This allows him to focus on his new acting opportunity.

Ted Lasso Dani Rojas Update Is Its Biggest Real Soccer Story

Fans of the show Ted Lasso are thrilled to learn that Cristo Fernández, who plays a key character, has joined a professional soccer club. This adds a new layer of authenticity to the show’s portrayal of the sport, as previous actors playing soccer characters were, at best, only casually skilled.

Fernández always stood out, dreaming of a career as a professional footballer. He was actually very close to achieving that dream as a teenager, but an injury ended those plans years ago. Now, in his mid-30s, he’s finally realized his ambition and become a professional player.

Thanks to his growing fame from the show Ted Lasso, Fernández was able to train with the reserve team of Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire. He did so well there that he earned a two-month trial with El Paso Locomotive, which he successfully completed.

Locomotive coach Junior Gonzalez has particularly highlighted Fernández’s strong leadership skills. He’s now officially a full-time professional player with the club and will be playing forward for the first team.

Actor Cristo Fernández Is Fulfilling A Lifelong Dream By Playing Professional Football

Cristo Fernández has said he’d love to reprise his role as Dani Rojas in season 4 of Ted Lasso. However, his new career playing professional soccer makes it much less likely that his character will return to the show. Still, Fernández seems happy, as he’s now achieving another long-held ambition: playing for a real soccer team.

After officially signing with El Paso Locomotive, Fernández shared a heartfelt statement about how significant this opportunity is for him. His words perfectly capture the spirit of his popular character from Ted Lasso, who famously said, “Football is life.”

Football has always been incredibly important to who I am, and even as my life changed, I never stopped hoping to play professionally.

For me, this return to pro soccer isn’t just about the game itself – it’s a reminder to trust your gut, be brave enough to take a chance, and never give up on what you really want, even if life throws you a curveball. It’s about that relentless pursuit of a dream, no matter where it leads.

For years, Fernández dreamed of becoming a professional athlete, but circumstances changed those plans. Despite this setback, he found a unique and unexpected way to return to the world of sports.

While most professional soccer players are nearing retirement, Cristo Fernández is just starting his career at the highest level – two decades after joining the youth team of his local club in Mexico. This is also a big moment for Ted Lasso, the show that launched Fernández into the spotlight and ultimately led to this opportunity.

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2026-05-14 01:08