Millions know Cristo Fernández as Dani Rojas, the relentlessly cheerful soccer star whose "fútbol is life" mantra became one of Ted Lasso's most beloved catchphrases. But long before he was playing a soccer star on television, Fernández was chasing that dream for real.
Now, as the World Cup brings the sport to America's doorstep, he's getting a second chance to prove that those two versions of himself were never all that different.
The actor, who won over audiences as AFC Richmond's infectiously upbeat striker, is currently in El Paso, Texas, where he's training with USL Championship club El Paso Locomotive FC. Although he's still waiting for his sports visa to be finalized, it's a full-circle moment for Fernández, who grew up playing fútbol in Mexico before acting unexpectedly changed the course of his life.
And while plenty of people still stop him to shout Dani Rojas's signature line, he says he'll never get tired of hearing it.
"'Fútbol is life,' Dani Rojas and Ted Lasso were something very positive for people, and it gave them life in some dark times," Fernández tells Yahoo. "I take that energy. I'm grateful. It means a lot to me that my work meant so much for so many people."