Seven months in the past, U.S. soccer followers knew Diego Luna because the man who broke his nostril.
Now he is the breakout star for the U.S. males’s nationwide group, and he’s on the verge of a Gold Cup trophy in opposition to rivals Mexico.
Diego Luna has gone from having a damaged nostril to being a breakout star for the U.S. males’s group this 12 months. (Getty Photographs)
Even earlier than that damage in a recreation in opposition to Costa Rica again in January, it has been an eventful journey for the 21-year-old, recognizable by his platinum hair and his tattoos. Final summer time, he was reduce from the U.S. Olympic group forward of the Paris Video games. He grew to become a father to a child boy. He was just lately voted an MLS All-Star for his membership Actual Salt Lake.
Now, he is scoring objectives and wowing USMNT followers, who’ll hope the 5-foot-8 playmaker will stand out as soon as once more in opposition to Mexico in Sunday’s grand finale in Houston (protection begins at 6 p.m. ET on FOX).
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Both manner, Luna’s large summer time has put him in prime place to play his manner onto the USMNT roster for the 2026 World Cup.
I caught up with the electrical playmaker about cheering for the U.S. over Mexico as a child, his motivation, and if he plans to get one other tattoo if he lifts the Gold Cup.
What’s your earliest reminiscence of soccer? When do you bear in mind first turning into conscious of the sport?
I believe simply being at a subject with my older brother, and my dad was teaching. I believe I used to be about 4.
What’s your first reminiscence of the U.S.-Mexico rivalry?
I do know there’s a narrative going round, however I simply bear in mind being at, like, a household gathering. Half of my household was rooting for Mexico. I used to be cheering for the U.S. I simply bear in mind getting mad every time Mexico would rating. It was like a bit beef between me and my members of the family, there’d be little feedback. Nevertheless it was cool. It was all in enjoyable. I don’t bear in mind which recreation it was. I believe it was the one the place Giovani dos Santos scored on a chip [for Mexico in the 2011 Gold Cup final].
You’re from California, however you might have represented Mexico as a substitute of the U.S. What was it like having each choices?
Yeah, they contacted me about enjoying for them after I was with the [U.S.] under-20s. However that was a very long time in the past now.
Have been you a fan of any explicit group rising up?
I’ve all the time preferred Actual Madrid. And my brother was a giant Liverpool fan, so I additionally preferred watching them.
Who was your favourite participant?
Marco Reus. I simply preferred the way in which he performed, the way in which he managed the sport. It’s too dangerous I haven’t gotten the possibility to play in opposition to him in MLS but.
Two of a sort? Germany star Marco Reus is a favourite of Diego Luna. (Getty Photographs)
Are you a fan of different sports activities groups?
Not likely. I like golf and boxing. I do sort of just like the Dallas Cowboys. It was very cool that we had been in a position to make use of their locker room a number of weeks in the past [for the win over Haiti in the Gold Cup group stage].
Favourite athletes exterior of soccer?
Tiger Woods. Canelo [Álvarez, the Mexican boxer]. Serena Williams.
Did you play different sports activities in addition to soccer as a child?
You could be shocked, however I performed volleyball and basketball.
Diego Luna could not stand over some his USMNT teammates, however he is been a standout participant at this Gold Cup. (Photograph by Erin Chang/ISI Pictures/USSF/Getty Photographs)
You overlapped with Mexico defender Julian Araujo once you had been on the Barcelona residency academy in Arizona. What wouldn’t it be prefer to face him within the ultimate?
It might be cool. He’s two years older than me, so we didn’t actually play collectively that a lot. Nevertheless it’s all the time good to see individuals you recognize succeed.
What would you be doing for those who weren’t a soccer participant?
Man, that’s powerful. A firefighter possibly.
OK, clearly I’ve to ask about your tats. What number of do you will have?
Truthfully, I don’t even know. … It’s actually laborious to say. Do I rely all those on my fingers individually?
I do know the primary one you bought to commemorate your niece’s birthday. How previous is she now? Does she find out about it?
Yeah, she is aware of about it. She’s seven now. She thinks it’s cool.
Does she know that you just kiss that wrist once you rating?
I assume she is going to now. My son’s identify is on that very same wrist, too, in order that’s additionally a part of it.
Diego Luna’s signature celebration of kissing his tattoos to honor his household after scoring a purpose. (Photograph by Jeremy Olson/ISI Pictures/ISI Pictures through Getty Photographs)
Will you get a brand new tattoo for those who win the Gold Cup?
Yeah, undoubtedly. I don’t know what precisely but however sure.
Who has been probably the most influential particular person in your life?
My dad. He’s all the time been there for me, and he made plenty of sacrifices for me.
What has been the toughest second of your profession to date?
Not making the Olympic group final 12 months. That actually harm. I needed to refocus and be sure that I used to be staying constructive and I simply doubled down on placing within the work. It was a giant disappointment within the second but it surely sort of helped me ultimately, you recognize? That setback helped get me to the place I’m right now.
What’s your final purpose in soccer?
I need to handle my household, ensure they’re safe, have the ability to safe their future financially. Proper now, every part is about my son. He motivates me to maintain pushing. Having a son has actually put every part into perspective for me.
Doug McIntyre is a soccer reporter for FOX Sports activities who has coated United States males’s and girls’s nationwide groups at FIFA World Cups on 5 continents. Observe him @ByDougMcIntyre.
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