Diego Luna, the story of the USMNT star at the Gold Cup who turned down Mexico

Born in Sunnyvale, California, on September 7, 2003, Diego Luna has greater than his identify linked to Mexico by the well-known actor, additionally by the blood that runs by means of his veins due to his household

Nonetheless, and though he doesn’t deny his Mexican nationality, he selected to defend the US nationwide workforce, the place, within the absence of Christian Pulisic, he has led the workforce coached by Mauricio Pochettino within the Gold Cup

Ultimate towards Mexico, a sentimental match for Diego Luna

Destiny has as soon as once more put him within the highlight towards the nation of his mother and father, Mexico, with whom he’ll play the Gold Cup last subsequent Sunday in Houston, Texas.

At 21 years of age, Diego Luna has turn into the star of the US nationwide workforce within the Concacaf match, standing out with three objectives and two assists in 4 video games. He was additionally the star towards Guatemala within the semifinals with a brace.

Though he has Mexican nationality, the present Actual Salt Lake participant at all times leaned in direction of defending the Stars and Stripes jersey. It was to not belittle Mexico, however as a thanks to the nation that noticed him develop up.

It is not as if the Mexican nationwide workforce let a Mexican-American expertise slip by means of their fingers, as a result of even Andres Lillini went to search for him on the time; nonetheless, he declined the invitation to play for El Tri and most popular to undergo the youth course of with the US.

Why did Diego Luna select the US over Mexico?

In an interview in 2022 with Brian Sciaretta, the Sunnyvale native revealed why he at all times leaned in direction of the Stars and Stripes, a choice he by no means doubted.

“Once I was little, folks at all times got here to observe the video games. The rivalry with Mexico was very robust, and I at all times wore the US jersey,” he advised ‘American Soccer Now’.

Including that “I cried when Mexico scored a purpose towards us and tears got here to my eyes, and I used to be going round telling folks to cease cheering, as a result of half of my household was cheering for Mexico and the opposite half for the US,” he shared.

I respect and love Mexico, and I really like being Mexican, however I grew up in the US

Diego Luna about why play for the US

However, though he most popular the Stars and Stripes, he gladly accepts his Mexican nationality: “Once I began to develop up, I spotted that I’m additionally Mexican, I communicate Spanish and my mother and father are from Mexico. So I began to place it in perspective: I respect and love Mexico, and I really like being Mexican, however I grew up in the US,” he stated.

This led him to make a tough determination, to play for the US nationwide workforce as a substitute of Mexico: “I feel it is one thing to be pleased with. I used to be born and raised in the US, it gave me what I’ve now. It introduced me to the place I’m, and I feel it is one thing vital to place into perspective: I used to be born and raised in the US, so it is solely honest to play for the nation that raised me and made me who I’m.”

Landon Donovan surrenders to Diego Luna

‘Captain America’ was concerned within the evaluation of the US’ victory over Guatemala, the place Diego Luna stood out with two objectives, which is why he highlighted his profession.

“Guys, three years in the past he was enjoying within the USL with El Paso Locomotive. Actually, we had been coaching towards him within the USL, the second division of the US,” Landon Donovan recalled when he was teaching San Diego Loyal.

“As we speak he took the workforce to the Gold Cup Ultimate. It is an unimaginable story and I could not be happier for that younger man,” the previous United States captain advised FOX Soccer.

Nationality of the soccer participant, Diego Luna

The son of Mexican immigrant mother and father, the Actual Salt Lake soccer participant is the youngest of 4 siblings, the place his closest sister is sort of 10 years older. Like most Mexican households, soccer was a ardour; the place his father and brother had been his coaches till he was 12 years previous.

Kicking the ball was what Diego Luna was keen about, who realized that he was not good at college, so he labored laborious and mentally to turn into an expert soccer participant, beginning his coaching on the San Jose Earthquakes academy. Nonetheless, he was by no means joyful along with his growth there, so he needed to make an vital determination about the place to go, away from his household who lived in California.

“I used to be caught, I moved away from my household and went to Arizona at 15. And getting away from them was for a dream and one thing essential, though I feel it was in all probability the most effective determination of my life. Going to Arizona for a yr and a half led me to El Paso,” he recalled with Brian Sciaretta.

Diego Luna took his first skilled steps with El Paso Locomotive within the USL, the place he performed 43 video games, scoring 13 objectives and 7 assists, which led to him being known as up by the US youth nationwide workforce.

Even in his call-up to the Revelation Cup, he confronted Mexico, and was the one who scored for the US after an help from Cade Cowell, present Chivas participant. Though they misplaced 2-1, Luna is remembered for kissing the USNMT badge towards El Tri.

The event led Diego Luna to comply with the method in direction of the Olympic Video games in Paris 2024; nonetheless, he didn’t make the minimize with Marko Mitrovic, taking a tough blow, though it didn’t make him fall.

After enjoying for El Paso Locomotive, the Mexican-American was signed by Actual Salt Lake for the 2022 season. Since then, on the age of 21, he has already performed 98 video games, scored 24 objectives and offered 11 assists in MLS.

These performances led to him being known as up by Mauricio Pochettino for the Gold Cup to guide the US’ offense within the absence of Christian Pulisic.

And he has not failed. Diego Luna has been key with the US nationwide workforce, and they’re one step away from profitable the Gold Cup. Nonetheless, to attain this, he should do it towards the opposite nation he loves, Mexico.