​Actor Cristo Fernández, best known for portraying Dani Rojas in Apple TV+’s Ted Lasso, has shifted gears in his career and recently stepped onto the professional soccer field. Fernández made his professional debut with USL Championship side El Paso Locomotive after a determined return to the sport he loves. Born in Guadalajara, Mexico, Fernández spent his youth playing soccer and continued through lower levels in Mexico and Puerto Rico. A string of knee injuries ultimately nudged him away from the pitch and toward acting, a move that would eventually launch him into the global spotlight.
His breakthrough came with the beloved Ted Lasso character Dani Rojas, a role that helped Fernández amass a robust following on Instagram, boasting around half a million fans. In a May interview with ESPN, he reflected on the turn his life took, saying, “Who would have thought that my biggest opportunity in this new world was going to be because of soccer? I always say that everything happens for a reason, both the good and bad things.” The success in acting also opened doors behind the scenes, with Fernández founding Espectro MX Films, a production company created with his sister to develop new projects and give voice to stories they’re passionate about.
Since his Ted Lasso breakout, Fernández has pursued roles in major productions, including appearances in Spider-Man: No Way Home, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, and Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Yet his enduring love for soccer never faded. He began training again with the ambition of returning to the professional game, joining Chicago Fire II, the reserve team for MLS’s Chicago Fire. His perseverance paid off when he earned a two-month trial with El Paso Locomotive in the USL Championship, culminating in a professional contract in May 2026.
Two months after signing, Fernández made his professional debut by coming on as a substitute in the 79th minute against New Mexico United on a Saturday match. At 35 years old, Fernández faces a unique challenge: balancing his established fame with the demands of professional sports, a combination that invites significant scrutiny and expectation.
“I understand the pressure, but there’s always pressure in everything I’ve done,” Fernández told ESPN. “I’m a hard-working person; I’ve never been the best at anything, but I always give my best and work hard for it.” His response to that pressure will help determine whether this second act in his career can flourish at the highest levels of professional soccer.
As Fernández charts this unlikely path—returning to professional play later in life after an early rise to celebrity—fans and observers will be watching closely to see if he can carve out sustained success on the field while continuing to expand his footprint in film, production, and storytelling. The question remains: can Cristóbal Fernández, once Dani Rojas and now a professional footballer at 35, prove that second acts can be powerful and enduring? Only time will tell, but his ongoing journey is already a testament to versatility, determination, and the unpredictable arc of a modern entertainment career.