Can Dani Rojas really play? Analyzing every moment of ‘Ted Lasso’ star Cristo Fernández’s pro soccer debut

With the U.S. men’s national team out of the World Cup, the biggest story in American soccer last weekend came from El Paso. There, Cristo Fernandez – best known as the actor behind Dani Rojas on Ted Lasso – made his professional debut as a member of the El Paso Locomotive.

Fernandez subbed on in the 78th minute of a 2-1 loss to New Mexico United in a USL Cup group stage game, credited with merely three touches during his limited cameo. Still, the clip of Fernandez entering the game from the official USL account on X drew more than 7,000,000 views; outlets from the BBC to the Daily Mail to ESPN wrote up his appearance.

The newfound attention on the Locomotive is unabashedly a good thing. For a third straight season, El Paso is on track to see their attendance decline; adding a global star to the roster can help reverse the trend. It’s easy to imagine merchandise sales booming with Fernandez in tow. Still, another question lingers: is Cristo Fernandez actually a useful soccer player?

Fernandez played at a relatively high level as an academy prospect in Mexico, though injury troubles in his teenage years derailed what could’ve been a promising career. Looking to get back into the game at age 35, the forward trialed for the Locomotive in the preseason and was signed to a full contract in May. Visa issues delayed Fernandez’s debut until last weekend, meaning that we finally have the ability to judge his potential.

Without further ado, let’s see what the actor-turned-professional player had to offer with a play-to-play breakdown.

Fernandez enters the game (79’)

Some players keep it understated when they come into the game; others are more performative. Fernandez used some little leaps to warm up, dapped up manager Junior Gonzalez and outgoing forward Rubio Rubin, and hustled his way onto the pitch. I don’t want to throw the word “aura” around all willy-nilly, but the moment felt big.

Getting down to brass tacks, Fernandez entered the match as the lone No. 9 in a 4-2-3-1 shape for the Locomotive. Out of possession, he and Alex Mendez – once a star U.S. youth international in his own right – worked together as the pressing forwards in a defensive 4-4-2. With the match against United tied at 0-0, everything was up in the air as the Ted Lasso star began his pro career.