Cristo Fernandez Signs With El Paso at 35, Returning to Pro Soccer After Nearly 20 Years
Updated
Updated · USA TODAY · May 12
Cristo Fernandez Signs With El Paso at 35, Returning to Pro Soccer After Nearly 20 Years
15 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · May 12
El Paso Locomotive FC officially signed Cristo Fernandez on May 12, completing the "Ted Lasso" actor's return to professional soccer after nearly two decades away.
A serious knee injury at 15 derailed his first playing path after time in Tecos FC's academy, but Fernandez said the dream of competing professionally never left him.
A two-month trial with El Paso — including preseason action — led to the deal, with coach Junior Gonzalez calling the 35-year-old an added attacking threat and locker-room leader.
El Paso is 4-2-3 through nine games in the 2026 USL Championship season, while Fernandez's screen future is less clear ahead of "Ted Lasso" Season 4 on Aug. 5.
Is the 'Ted Lasso' star's signing a genuine athletic boost or the ultimate publicity stunt for American soccer?
How does a real-life soccer contract impact the future of both Cristo Fernández and his beloved character Dani Rojas?
Can a 35-year-old actor survive the brutal physical demands of professional soccer after a two-decade hiatus?