They often say that reality sometimes surpasses fiction. But the truth is that sometimes we come across stories that are truly incredible.
I find the story of Cristo Fernández, a Mexican actor who appeared in one season of the series Ted Lasso, incredible. In the series, Fernández plays a soccer player who lives, breathes, and loves the sport—which is why he’s always repeating the phrase “Football is life.”
“But what?” you might be wondering—well, wait and keep reading. The thing is, the actor has become a professional soccer player for a team in the United States. Impressive, isn’t it?
Fernández, 35, has signed a contract with El Paso Locomotive FC, which currently plays in the second division of the U.S. soccer league.
The Mexican, who played in the youth ranks of a team in his home country, retired at a young age after suffering a knee injury. But now he has a new opportunity to be part of a professional team.
Personally, I find Fernández’s story incredible—that someone who plays a soccer player in a TV series has become a professional player. In other words, he’s taken his on-screen role and brought it to life.
The sporting director of the El Paso Locomotive says that Cristo has earned his spot on the team just like any other player on the roster, through hard work and performance; the coach insists this isn’t a marketing strategy to promote the team.
If you’ve seen the series Ted Lasso, you’ll already know that “Dani Rojas”—the character Fernández plays—is a resilient forward who knows how to bounce back from an injury, in addition to possessing innate offensive skills and a keen eye for the goal. Fernández describes himself in exactly the same way: a passionate player with great mobility and a strong presence in the box.
Now I'm just wondering if we'll see him again in the show in another season; I think that would be really amazing, since his character is so endearing.
Congratulations to Cristo Fernández, and remember: “Football is Life”
Posted via Lumen
