Read for 2 minutesUpdated: July 13, 2026 07:10 PM IST
Christo Fernandes. The actor, best known as a professional footballer in the popular TV show ‘Ted Lasso’, made his reel character come true when he made his professional football debut for USL side El Paso Lokomotiv in a cup match against New Mexico United on Saturday.
Cristo picked up a yellow card in the 79th minute for Lokomotiv as his team lost 0-2.
Cristo played the ever-optimistic character Danny Rojas in Ted Lasso which became a hit for its emotional storytelling with sports action. His mantra, “Football is life!”, became one of the show’s most beloved catchphrases.
Football is life 🙌
Cristo Fernandez, best known for his role as Danny Rojas in Ted Lasso, made his professional debut on Saturday. Fernandez was a 79th minute substitute in El Paso Lokomotiv’s USL Cup match against New Mexico United ❤️🔥pic.twitter.com/OgNR4N16Oc
— Men In Blazers (@MenInBlazers) 12 July 2026
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The show is about an American college football coach who is unexpectedly hired to manage AFC Richmond, a Premier League team in England. Despite having no experience as a football coach, Ted Lasso (played by Jason Sudeikis) navigates the English Premier League with his assistant Willis Beard (played by Brendan Hunt).
Christo, who later becomes one of the series’ central characters, is a skilled young athlete. However, like his character on the show, his career was derailed by injuries. The 35-year-old started his career with Tecos FC in Liga MX before turning to acting.
His childhood dream of becoming a footballer never faded and after the show, he started testing himself with a performance coach, physio therapist at a football clinic in Mexico.
He first tried out for the Chicago Fire’s reserve team earlier this year, leading to another tryout and eventual contract with El Paso. “Football has given me both the best moments and the saddest moments,” he said. “I think that’s why, for me, football is life.”