Before ‘Ted Lasso,’ Cristo Fernández had pro soccer dreams. Now he’s living them.

“Ted Lasso” star Cristo Fernández wants to make one thing clear: This isn’t a PR stunt.

“At the end of the day, I can tell you anything, but the only thing that’s going to prove anything will be me on the pitch and the performance and what I bring on the field,” the actor-turned-player told ESPN after signing with the USL Championship‘s El Paso Locomotive. “I also understand who I am, and that big part of why I’m here can also be related to my work in other fields … [but] this is real life.”

To most if not all of his fans (which includes nearly half a million followers on Instagram), Fernández is known as Dani Rojas, an enthusiastic yet fictional soccer player from the show “Ted Lasso.” His goals, slick moves and even the club he plays for in the series, AFC Richmond, were part of a Hollywood script — which is why eyebrows were raised on Tuesday when El Paso announced it had signed the actor.

Some might view this as an obvious ploy by either the second-division team or the celebrity to bank off the TV show’s notoriety. But for Fernández, it’s the realization of a lifelong ambition, one that began well before he showed up on our screens.

“It’s a dream come true, it’s hard to put into words,” said the now professional player. “It has been lots of hard work.”

Falling in love with the beautiful game

Football was, in fact, life for Fernández.

When talking to the actor, it felt similar to numerous other interviews with Mexican-born players who grow up with a passion for the sport. Raised in Guadalajara, the latest El Paso signing said that the “only thing I ever did” as a kid was play soccer.

Locally, he rooted for Liga MX giants Chivas and reminisced about his heroes such as Adolfo “Bofo” Bautista, Omar Bravo, Alberto “Venado” Medina and Oswaldo Sánchez. Beyond Mexican players, he idolized Ronaldinho, noting the Brazilian icon’s big smile is akin to the one Fernández flashed while playing as Rojas.

By an early age, Fernández’s life goal had already been set: He was going to make his own name in the sport.

“I gave my parents a heart attack when I told them I was going to pursue this,” said Fernández with a laugh.

Training in the morning and going to school at night, he became involved in the youth ranks of pro teams in his teenage years, including a stint at former Liga MX side Tecos. On paper, all things pointed to a possible career in something that he loved.

Then came his first major injury at 19 to his left knee, halting his involvement for a brief period. Further injuries in his early 20s put up more roadblocks, and after playing a season in Puerto Rico, the writing was on the wall with his physical setbacks.

He wasn’t going to make it as a professional player.

“You feel like the world is falling down … I didn’t understand why these specific things were happening when I was so disciplined, when I was so focused, more than even other teammates,” Fernández said. “I was also feeling depressed just talking about it or playing it. I didn’t play at all for many years.”

‘Everything happens for a reason’

Deciding to pivot away from soccer and earn a degree in communications, Fernández discovered another passion while at university in Mexico.

“I gave my parents another heart attack by telling them I want to be an actor,” he said with another laugh.

After a move abroad to England, he graduated from the Guildford School of Acting at the University of Surrey in 2018, and by 2020, he found himself on the Emmy Award-winning “Ted Lasso,” portraying Rojas. Once intentionally pushing away from the sport, it was now front and center as a cast member on a hit TV series.

Lacing up his cleats once again, he was a natural back on the field.

“Who would have thought that my biggest opportunity in this new world was going to be because of [soccer],” Fernández said. “I always say that everything happens for a reason, both the good and bad things.”

With the success of “Ted Lasso” under his belt, a growing list of acting gigs followed. Alongside his sister, he has founded his own production company, Espectro MX Films.

But soccer came calling back.

After befriending former Mexico national team captain and fellow Guadalajara native Andrés Guardado, Fernández confided in the midfielder that he still wanted to play. With recommendations from Guardado, the actor began to test his physical limits last year with a performance coach, physical therapist and a soccer clinic back home in Mexico.

Once again surprising his relatives, he laid out his new goal to play professionally.

“I talked about it secretly with my family and my dad,” Fernández said, adding that his father passed away in December. “He always was like, ‘Ay, Cristobal, you are very crazy, but I believe in you, and if this is something you want, you can do it.'”

With connections through his management, he got a trial with the reserve side of MLS‘ Chicago Fire in early 2026, which led to his opportunity with El Paso in the second division. Following a two-month trial, Fernández was signed on Tuesday.

Cristo Fernández, the futbolista

El Paso’s new addition isn’t naive — he knows that plenty will be wondering if Dani Rojas can keep up at this level.

“I understand the pressure, but I guess there’s always been pressure, even in anything I’ve done in my life,” Fernández said when asked if he’s worried about how he’ll perform. “I think of myself as a hardworking man, and I have never been the best in anything, but I always give my best and work hard for it.”

Like Rojas in a way of life imitating art, there will also be the additional spotlight of being a goal-scoring forward, arguably the most vital position in a starting XI.

One way of helping overcome this pressure: Why not try emulating the charisma and flamboyant style of play of Mexican great Luis “Matador” Hernández, a World Cup legend and striker that Fernández admires and relates to.

“Fearless and a big personality and always with big energy,” said the USL player, who also shares a similar look with flowing locks.

But when will he play? Fernández is keeping his fingers crossed that league paperwork, visa documents and other forms will all be finalized before the end of the month. Once he makes his debut, he’ll then embark in an ongoing and lengthy second-division regular season that extends into late October.

If Locomotive were to qualify for the playoffs, that could textend that run into November. It’ll be a grueling schedule that includes cross-country trips, but according to the forward, who said he’s also capable of playing on the flanks of the attacking line, he’s all-in for the 2026 season.

“There’s no time for acting,” he noted.

That said, there are some personal collaborations he’s still managing with his sister, and other projects being released, but he plans for soccer to be his main priority in the near future.

As for how long that priority will last after 2026, that remains to be seen. At 35, he’s clearly a veteran presence in any roster, but he’s keeping his options — both on and off the field — open.

“Who knows,” Fernández said. “Right now I’m just focusing on playing football … on training every day, on helping El Paso Locomotive and [having] a good season and then from there we can see where things can go.”

Whether the beautiful game will provide more heartbreak or joy that’s worthy of a Hollywood script, Fernández is embracing it all.

“Football has given me both the best moments, the sad moments,” said the newly professional player. “I guess that’s why, for me, football is life.”