# Cristo Fernández

**Cristo Fernández** (Cristóbal Fernández, born 1991 in [Guadalajara](https://www.edgepedia.org/guadalajara), Jalisco, Mexico) is a Mexican actor and former youth footballer who plays the striker Dani Rojas on the Apple TV+ comedy *Ted Lasso*, and who in 2026 signed as a professional forward with El Paso Locomotive FC of the [USL Championship](https://www.edgepedia.org/usl-championship), the second tier of United States soccer.<sup>[1](https://www.unotv.com/entretenimiento/cristo-fernandez-quien-es-el-mexicano-que-sale-en-la-serie-ted-lasso/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://apnews.com/article/66cf925389011fd6deb8565fcd2c12c0)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[3](https://elpais.com/gente/2026-05-20/el-actor-cristo-fernandez-pasa-de-delantero-en-ted-lasso-a-futbolista-profesional-en-un-club-de-texas.html)</sup>

| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, 1991<sup>[1](https://www.unotv.com/entretenimiento/cristo-fernandez-quien-es-el-mexicano-que-sale-en-la-serie-ted-lasso/)</sup> |
| Breakthrough role | Dani Rojas, a Mexican striker at AFC Richmond on *Ted Lasso*, cast in 2020<sup>[4](https://www.latimes.com/delos/story/2023-08-23/cristo-fernandez-ted-lasso-dani-rojas)</sup> |
| Signature line | "Football is life", the motto of his character, is the quote he is most known for<sup>[5](https://www.sportingnews.com/uk/football/news/cristo-fernandez-soccer-dani-rojas-ted-lasso-usl/61aecdaecb906279e92913f5)</sup> |
| Acting training | Communications degree at the Universidad del Valle de Atemajac; master's at the Guildford School of Acting, University of Surrey, 2016<sup>[4](https://www.latimes.com/delos/story/2023-08-23/cristo-fernandez-ted-lasso-dani-rojas)</sup> |
| Professional signing | Forward for El Paso Locomotive FC (USL Championship), announced 12 May 2026 after a two-month trial<sup>[2](https://apnews.com/article/66cf925389011fd6deb8565fcd2c12c0)</sup> |
| Professional debut | Entered in the 79th minute of a USL Cup match against New Mexico United in July 2026, at age 35, wearing number 91 in a 2-0 loss<sup>[6](https://www.elfinanciero.com.mx/deportes/2026/07/12/quien-es-cristo-fernandez-el-actor-de-ted-lasso-que-debuto-como-futbolista-profesional/)</sup> |
| Production company | Espectro MX Films, founded in 2017<sup>[7](https://www.sensacine.com.mx/actores/actor-914441/)</sup> |

## Early life and football career

Fernández grew up in Guadalajara, where his grandmother introduced him to football, kicking a ball with him in the family garage after his early fascination with Mexican wrestlers.<sup>[8](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/cristo-fernandez-ted-lasso-advice-76394/)</sup> He joined the youth divisions of Estudiantes Tecos in Jalisco and later played for lower-division teams in Mexico and the United States, then for Guayama FC in the first division of Puerto Rico.<sup>[9](https://elpais.com/us/2026-03-05/cristo-fernandez-el-actor-de-ted-lasso-que-busca-debutar-en-la-mls.html)</sup> According to his own account, he became a professional player at 15 and attended school at night.<sup>[8](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/cristo-fernandez-ted-lasso-advice-76394/)</sup>

**Injury and change of course.** An injury to his left knee took him out of football for almost a year and stopped him from making his professional debut, an episode he describes as having triggered an existential crisis.<sup>[8](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/cristo-fernandez-ted-lasso-advice-76394/)</sup> The Associated Press summarizes the turning point as an injury at age 15 that led him to acting.<sup>[2](https://apnews.com/article/66cf925389011fd6deb8565fcd2c12c0)</sup> Knee injuries ultimately ended his playing career; one Mexican report places his departure from the sport at age 23.<sup>[10](https://lucesdelsiglo.com/2026/07/08/cristo-fernandez-pausa-actuacion-por-las-canchas-farandula/)</sup> His parents urged him to study, and he enrolled in communications at the Universidad del Valle de Atemajac, where making student video portfolios, including shot-by-shot recreations of scenes from films such as *Pulp Fiction* and *Fight Club*, turned him toward acting.<sup>[4](https://www.latimes.com/delos/story/2023-08-23/cristo-fernandez-ted-lasso-dani-rojas)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[8](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/cristo-fernandez-ted-lasso-advice-76394/)</sup>

## Acting training and Ted Lasso

After finishing his degree, Fernández worked in commercials, sports marketing, and insurance sales to save money, and in 2016 moved to the United Kingdom for a master's at the Guildford School of Acting at the [University of Surrey](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-of-surrey).<sup>[4](https://www.latimes.com/delos/story/2023-08-23/cristo-fernandez-ted-lasso-dani-rojas)</sup> He then spent about three years in London without a work visa, bartending and losing roles when casting learned his status, while writing, producing, and shooting his own short films.<sup>[8](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/cristo-fernandez-ted-lasso-advice-76394/)</sup>

His first major break came in 2020, when he was cast as Dani Rojas on *Ted Lasso*, a show that won 11 [Emmy Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/emmy-awards) with 61 nominations over three seasons.<sup>[4](https://www.latimes.com/delos/story/2023-08-23/cristo-fernandez-ted-lasso-dani-rojas)</sup> The initial audition asked for a video showing football skill as well as acting.<sup>[11](https://www.playmakerstats.com/files/TMD/TMD9_PRINT_VERSION.pdf)</sup> The character was originally written as Icelandic, and Fernández persuaded the production that Rojas should be Mexican; Rojas is inspired in part by Fernández's own story and in part by [Javier Hernández](https://www.edgepedia.org/javier-hernandez) (Chicharito).<sup>[9](https://elpais.com/us/2026-03-05/cristo-fernandez-el-actor-de-ted-lasso-que-busca-debutar-en-la-mls.html)</sup> The character's motto, "Football is life", became the quote Fernández is most known for.<sup>[5](https://www.sportingnews.com/uk/football/news/cristo-fernandez-soccer-dani-rojas-ted-lasso-usl/61aecdaecb906279e92913f5)</sup>

The role opened doors to other work, including the television series *Acapulco* and small roles in films such as *Spider-Man: No Way Home* and *Sonic the Hedgehog 3*.<sup>[12](https://www.hola.com/us/celebrities/20260624909268/ted-lasso-cristo-fernandez-soccer-player-world-cup-interview/)</sup> He also voiced Wheeljack, described as the first Latino Autobot, in a [Transformers](https://www.edgepedia.org/transformers) production.<sup>[13](https://elcomercio.pe/luces/cine/se-alejo-del-futbol-profesional-por-una-lesion-y-ahora-brilla-como-actor-le-dio-voz-al-primer-autobot-latino-y-mas-entrevista-premios-platino-xcaret-2024-transformers-cristo-fernandez-mexico-noticia/?outputType=amp)</sup> In 2022 the Critics Choice Association gave him a Rising Star award at its Celebration of Latino Cinema & [Television](https://www.edgepedia.org/television).<sup>[14](https://sealegacy.org/community/cristo-fernandez/)</sup>

## Return to professional football

In early 2026 Fernández trained with Chicago Fire FC of Major League Soccer; the club confirmed on X that he had spent time on trial and scored two goals in a scrimmage.<sup>[9](https://elpais.com/us/2026-03-05/cristo-fernandez-el-actor-de-ted-lasso-que-busca-debutar-en-la-mls.html)</sup> After more than two months of training with El Paso Locomotive FC, including a preseason friendly against New Mexico United, the USL Championship club announced his signing on 12 May 2026; terms were not disclosed and the deal still required approval from the league and the soccer federation.<sup>[2](https://apnews.com/article/66cf925389011fd6deb8565fcd2c12c0)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[3](https://elpais.com/gente/2026-05-20/el-actor-cristo-fernandez-pasa-de-delantero-en-ted-lasso-a-futbolista-profesional-en-un-club-de-texas.html)</sup> [Locomotive](https://www.edgepedia.org/locomotive) coach [Junior Gonzalez](https://www.edgepedia.org/junior-gonzalez) called him another attacking threat who brings passion and leadership to the locker room.<sup>[2](https://apnews.com/article/66cf925389011fd6deb8565fcd2c12c0)</sup>

He made his professional debut in July 2026 at age 35, coming on as a substitute in the 79th minute of a [USL Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/usl-cup) match against New Mexico United, wearing number 91 in a 2-0 defeat, and receiving a yellow card.<sup>[6](https://www.elfinanciero.com.mx/deportes/2026/07/12/quien-es-cristo-fernandez-el-actor-de-ted-lasso-que-debuto-como-futbolista-profesional/)</sup> He has described the signing as uncommon, noting that at 35 most professional players are approaching retirement.<sup>[3](https://elpais.com/gente/2026-05-20/el-actor-cristo-fernandez-pasa-de-delantero-en-ted-lasso-a-futbolista-profesional-en-un-club-de-texas.html)</sup>

## Other work

Fernández founded the production company Espectro MX Films in 2017; its short film *Fuera de serie*, about television inventor Guillermo González Camarena, won Best Short Film at the Premios Latino 2018 in Marbella, Spain.<sup>[7](https://www.sensacine.com.mx/actores/actor-914441/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[15](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9434831/?showAllCredits=true)</sup> With his sister Paloma Cinco he runs the podcast "Futbol es Vida", launched in June 2026, which discusses life around football rather than tactical analysis; its first-season guests have included [Miguel Layún](https://www.edgepedia.org/miguel-layun), Jaime Camil, Miguel Herrera, Cobi Jones, and Ali Riley.<sup>[10](https://lucesdelsiglo.com/2026/07/08/cristo-fernandez-pausa-actuacion-por-las-canchas-farandula/)</sup>

## References

1. [Cristo Fernández, quién es el mexicano que sale en la serie Ted Lasso, UnoTV](https://www.unotv.com/entretenimiento/cristo-fernandez-quien-es-el-mexicano-que-sale-en-la-serie-ted-lasso/)
2. [From Dani Rojas to the USL: Cristo Fernandez earns an El Paso Locomotive deal, Associated Press](https://apnews.com/article/66cf925389011fd6deb8565fcd2c12c0)
3. [El actor Cristo Fernández pasa de delantero en 'Ted Lasso' a futbolista profesional en un club de Texas, El País](https://elpais.com/gente/2026-05-20/el-actor-cristo-fernandez-pasa-de-delantero-en-ted-lasso-a-futbolista-profesional-en-un-club-de-texas.html)
4. [Despite injuries ending his soccer career, Cristo Fernández turned to acting to keep his dream alive, Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/delos/story/2023-08-23/cristo-fernandez-ted-lasso-dani-rojas)
5. [Cristo Fernandez soccer career, explained: Why Dani Rojas from 'Ted Lasso' signed with USL team, Sporting News](https://www.sportingnews.com/uk/football/news/cristo-fernandez-soccer-dani-rojas-ted-lasso-usl/61aecdaecb906279e92913f5)
6. [¡Football is life!: Cristo Fernández, el actor de 'Ted Lasso' que se volvió futbolista profesional, El Financiero](https://www.elfinanciero.com.mx/deportes/2026/07/12/quien-es-cristo-fernandez-el-actor-de-ted-lasso-que-debuto-como-futbolista-profesional/)
7. [Cristo Fernández, SensaCine México](https://www.sensacine.com.mx/actores/actor-914441/)
8. [How a Knee Injury Changed the Course of Cristo Fernández's Life, Backstage](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/cristo-fernandez-ted-lasso-advice-76394/)
9. [Cristo Fernández, el actor de 'Ted Lasso' que busca debutar en la MLS, El País US](https://elpais.com/us/2026-03-05/cristo-fernandez-el-actor-de-ted-lasso-que-busca-debutar-en-la-mls.html)
10. [Cristo Fernández pausa actuación por las canchas, Luces del Siglo](https://lucesdelsiglo.com/2026/07/08/cristo-fernandez-pausa-actuacion-por-las-canchas-farandula/)
11. [The player in question was Cristobal Fernandez, Playmaker Stats](https://www.playmakerstats.com/files/TMD/TMD9_PRINT_VERSION.pdf)
12. [How 'Ted Lasso' star Cristo Fernández became a real soccer player, ¡Hola!](https://www.hola.com/us/celebrities/20260624909268/ted-lasso-cristo-fernandez-soccer-player-world-cup-interview/)
13. [Se alejó del fútbol profesional por una lesión y ahora brilla como actor, El Comercio](https://elcomercio.pe/luces/cine/se-alejo-del-futbol-profesional-por-una-lesion-y-ahora-brilla-como-actor-le-dio-voz-al-primer-autobot-latino-y-mas-entrevista-premios-platino-xcaret-2024-transformers-cristo-fernandez-mexico-noticia/?outputType=amp)
14. [Cristo Fernández, SeaLegacy](https://sealegacy.org/community/cristo-fernandez/)
15. [Cristo Fernández, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9434831/?showAllCredits=true)

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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of Latin America and Iberia › Mexican screen actors*

*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 20, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 20, 2026; Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*

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