Cristo Fernández, best known for bringing joy to fans as Dani Rojas in Ted Lassotakes on a new creative role.
The actor is officially becoming a children’s book author, inspired by the same love of football and life that made his TV character so memorable.
Fernández has written a new bilingual children’s book titled Football is life! or ¡Fútbol Es Vida!which will be published by Scholastic Inc.
The book, illustrated by James Rey Sanchez, will be released in summer 2026 and is already available for pre-order.
Written in English and Spanish, the story is rooted in Fernández’s own upbringing in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, and reflects his personal journey as a young soccer player whose life took unexpected turns.
According to the official description, the book follows a young boy named Cristobalito, who brings his soccer ball everywhere, until an injury forces him to stop playing.
Without football at the center of his world, Cristobalito begins to notice new possibilities around him, from learning to make tamales with his grandmother to discovering movement through ballet with his sister.
The story gently explores how change can open doors to passions we didn’t know we had.
The book’s title comes from Fernández’s now famous phrase, “football is life”, which he initially coined during his Ted Lasso hearing. For Fernández, the message goes well beyond the field.
“I hope this book will show children (and adults) that being yourself, where you come from, your culture, your joy, is our greatest strength,” Fernández said in a statement to PEOPLE.
“Especially at a time when the world feels heavy, I hope this reminds families that staying open, trying new things, working hard and dreaming big can still move us forward.” »
The story closely mirrors Fernández’s own life.
He previously pursued a professional soccer career in Mexico before injuries caused him to rethink his future.
This change eventually led him to study communications, then to acting in the United Kingdom, and finally to his instrumental role in Ted Lasso.
Football is life! Or ¡Fútbol Es Vida! will arrive in bookstores on July 7, 2026, offering young readers a heartfelt story about resilience, identity, and discovering who you are beyond what you first dreamed of.
