On the Pitch
On the Pitch
On the Pitch
The 23-year-old El Paso native loves enchiladas, anime and spending time with family
What have you been up to?
I just got home from training a couple hours ago. We have a very important match tomorrow, so I'm looking forward to that and preparing myself for that game.
Are you a morning person or a night owl?
I'm definitely a morning person. I love giving myself a good breakfast, hopping on the bike for a couple minutes, getting warm, and preparing for the day.
What's your alarm sound in the morning?
OG sound. OG Apple sound. I can't really wake myself up any more harsh than that.
How's it been living out here in the Netherlands?
It's been great. I've been playing for two different clubs in two different cities, so it's been fantastic. Everyone here speaks English, you get very good food, and people are very friendly. I think it's amazing.
If someone was coming out to visit the Netherlands for the first time, what do they have to do?
I'd probably say they have to ride a bike in Amsterdam. A lot of people think that's really easy, but I think it's actually one of the most difficult things to do.
What's your favorite place you've traveled to for soccer?
I'd probably say Jamaica. That was great. Good weather, a little bit of humidity, but playing near the beach and stuff like that is amazing.
What's one place you haven't been to but really want to go to?
I want to go out to Asia. I haven't really been, and it's definitely on my bucket list. I'll be looking forward to traveling there for sure.
What do you miss the most about El Paso?
Just the culture. The way the people are. People are very friendly and hardworking. I miss the food a lot, of course.
What's your favorite meal to have when you go back home?
My favorite meal is always going back to my mom's house and having her cook something. She's always whipping up different things, so it's always fantastic.
What's your favorite thing that she cooks?
I'd probably say enchiladas. Enchiladas is my top one. Most of the time when she comes here or when I go back home, she's always asking me what I want her to cook. I always say enchiladas because it's my favorite dish.
Do you cook?
I cook sometimes, but most of the time my family comes here and we chill. We put some steak on the grill and we love doing that.
Are you an electric or manual toothbrush type of guy?
Growing up, I was definitely a manual guy, but I switched to electric now and can't go back.
What's something that was on your bucket list that you've crossed off?
You got me there again. It's difficult. I don't really think I have one, to be honest.
Do you have any nicknames?
El Tren. El Tren is my favorite nickname. A lot of people have called me that and I think it's just stuck with me now.
Where did it come from?
Back when I was playing in Dallas, everyone used to call me that. I was young, I was scoring goals, it was kind of a hype train, so it just stuck with me. Now I love it.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I'd probably say "All of the Lights" by Kanye. I think that's an OG song and it hypes me up before every game.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
Based on playing soccer, probably being able to teleport or run really fast.
What's something that's guaranteed to make you smile?
I'm a big family guy, so just talking to my family and making sure everyone's okay. I think that's probably the happiest thing that I can get.
Can you show us your signature celebration?
Yeah, we got this one.
Where did that come from?
I'm a big anime guy. It comes from Naruto. It's my favorite character and he always does it, so that's where it comes from.
Who's one person who really assisted you on your journey to becoming a pro soccer player?
My parents, especially my dad. He was always my coach growing up. When I was four years old, that's when I started with him, and he was my coach until I was 10 years old. He really put in that work with me. He pushed me to my limits and I wouldn't be here without him.
What's your favorite memory with the national team?
I'd say my debut. My debut was pretty special. It was a World Cup qualifier, and scoring and assisting was fantastic.
Is there anything among these trophies that speaks to you right now?
This is probably the most recent one. We're champions of the Netherlands, so third one in a row. No better feeling.
When this tournament is over and you look back, what do you hope people say about the way you played and carried yourself?
I just want people to enjoy my game and feel that I'm committed to this team and committed to this country. I want to do the best that I can for myself, for my family and for the people.
