Diego Luna (soccer, born 2003)

Last updated

Diego Luna
Personal information
Full name Diego Angel Luna [1]
Date of birth (2003-09-07) September 7, 2003 (age 21)
Place of birth Sunnyvale, California, United States
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.72 m) [2]
Position(s) Attacking midfielder, winger
Team information
Current team
 Real Salt Lake
Number 8
Youth career
Palo Alto SC
2015–2018 San Jose Earthquakes
2018–2021 Barcelona Residency Academy
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2021–2022 El Paso Locomotive 41 (13)
2022 Real Monarchs 3 (2)
2022– Real Salt Lake 67 (13)
International career‡
2021–2023 United States U20 21 (5)
2024 United States U23 1 (0)
2024– United States 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 6, 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of January 22, 2025

Diego Angel Luna (born September 7, 2003) is an American professional soccer player who plays as an attacking midfielder or winger for Major League Soccer club Real Salt Lake and the United States national team.

Contents

Club career

Born in Sunnyvale, California, Luna began his career with the Palo Alto Soccer Club before joining the youth setup at Major League Soccer club San Jose Earthquakes in 2015. [3] [4] With the Earthquakes, Luna participated in various tournaments, including the Dallas Cup and Generation Adidas Cup. [4] In 2018, Luna left the Earthquakes academy and joined the Barcelona Residency Academy, the Arizona based academy for Spanish club Barcelona. [5]

El Paso Locomotive

On April 5, 2021, Luna signed a professional contract with USL Championship club El Paso Locomotive. [5] He made his debut for the club on May 8 in their season opening 1–1 draw against New Mexico United. He came on as a 78th-minute substitute for Richie Ryan. [6] Following the match, as well as the second against Rio Grande Valley Toros, Locomotive head coach Mark Lowry said, "He has the mentality to go to the very top and we’re gonna help him do that." [7]

Luna scored his first professional goal for El Paso on June 3, the winning goal in a 1–0 road victory over Austin Bold. [8] He headed in a crossed ball from Macauley King in the 56th minute to give his side all three points. [8]

Real Salt Lake

On June 2, 2022, Luna transferred to Real Salt Lake in a USL record deal of $250,000. He made his debut as an 88th-minute substitute against Vancouver Whitecaps.

International career

Luna has received call-ups to camps with the United States under-14, under-17, and under-20 youth national teams. [4]

In 2022, Luna featured prominently with the United States U-20 team that won the CONCACAF U-20 championship, securing berths for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup and the 2024 Olympics in the process.

Luna earned his first selection to the senior national team in January 2024. [9]

On July 23, 2024, Luna, after declining to join as an alternate for the United States Olympic team that was set to participate in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, he confirmed that he has not ruled out filing a one-time switch to FIFA switching his allegiance with Mexico. [10]

On January 6, 2025, Luna was called up by Mauricio Pochettino for training camp and friendlies against Venezuela and Costa Rica. [11] During the first half of the match against Costa Rica, Luna was elbowed in the face by a Costa Rican player and had his nose broken, but despite this Luna returned to the field to play through until halftime after having cotton shoved up his nostrils and changing to a fresh jersey after the previous had been bloodied. Luna provided an assist to Brian White's opening goal before going to the hospital for treatment after halftime, and in an interview following the end of the match which the United States won 3–0, Pochettino praised Luna's character and said that he had "big balls". [12] [13]

I've never closed down any doors. For me, it's continuing to perform and who's going to give me the best opportunity. I know there's some changes going on at the Mexican Football Federation, U.S. Soccer, too, but there are some big changes going on so we'll see what happens there.

—Diego Luna [10]

Personal life

Born in the United States, Luna is of Mexican descent. [14] [10]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played October 6, 2024 [15]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
El Paso Locomotive 2021 USL 319——1 [a] 0329
2022 10410——114
Total411310—104313
Real Monarchs 2022 MLS Next Pro 32———32
Real Salt Lake 2022 MLS 130———130
2023 235204 [b] 03 [c] 2327
2024 31811—40369
Total67133140728116
Career total1112841408212731
  1. ↑ Appearance in USL Championship Playoffs
  2. ↑ Appearances in Leagues Cup
  3. ↑ Appearances in MLS Cup Playoffs

International

As of match played January 22, 2025 [16]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
United States 202410
202520
Total30

Honors

United States U20

Individual

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Omar Salgado</span> American soccer player

Omar Salgado is an American soccer player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Arriola</span> American soccer player

Paul Joseph Arriola is an American professional soccer player who plays as a winger for Major League Soccer club Seattle Sounders FC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jay Chapman (soccer)</span> Canadian professional soccer player

Jay Tyler Chapman is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays for USL Championship club Charleston Battery, on loan from Hartford Athletic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Romario Williams</span> Jamaican footballer (born 1994)

Romario Garfield Williams is a Jamaican professional footballer who plays as a forward for USL Championship club Indy Eleven and the Jamaica national team. He is named after the legendary Brazilian footballer, Romário.

The Western Conference is one of two conferences in the USL Championship, the second level of men's club soccer in the United States.

Adrián Zendejas Rodríguez is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Skövde AIK.

Douglas Francisco Martínez Juárez is a Honduran professional footballer who plays as a forward for USL Championship club Charleston Battery and the Honduras national team.

Eric Santana Calvillo Ramirez is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for USL Championship club El Paso Locomotive. Born in the United States, he plays for the El Salvador national team.

David Ochoa is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Major League Soccer club Los Angeles FC. Born in the United States, he played for the Mexico national under-21 team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Mexico United</span> American soccer team in USL Championship

New Mexico United is an American professional soccer team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Founded June 6, 2018, the team currently plays in the USL Championship, the second division of American soccer. The team is owned by Peter Trevisani, with head coach Dennis Sanchez, and play their home games at Isotopes Park which has a capacity of around 13,500 people.

Erik McCue is a Swedish professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Örebro.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ricardo Pepi</span> American soccer player

Ricardo Daniel Pepi is an American professional soccer player who plays as a striker for Eredivisie club PSV and the United States national team.

The 2020 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC season was the club's sixth year of existence, and their sixth season in the Western Conference of the USL Championship, the second tier of the United States soccer league system.

The 2020 Real Monarchs season was the sixth season for Real Monarchs in the United Soccer League Championship, the second-tier professional soccer league in the United States and Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edison Azcona</span> Dominican Republic footballer (b. 2003)

Edison Alexander Azcona Vélez is a Dominican professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for USL Championship club Las Vegas Lights and the Dominican Republic national team.

Christopher Garcia is an American professional soccer player who plays as a winger for USL League One team Forward Madison.

The 2022 El Paso Locomotive FC season was the fourth season for El Paso Locomotive FC in the USL Championship (USLC), the second-tier professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. El Paso Locomotive FC also participates in the U.S. Open Cup and competes with all other professional teams in Texas for the Copa Tejas.

Brooklyn Sigel Randolph Raines is a professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Major League Soccer club Houston Dynamo. Born in Liberia, he represents the United States at youth level.

Diego Abarca is an American professional soccer player who plays for Austin FC II in MLS Next Pro.

The 2023 El Paso Locomotive FC season was the fifth season for El Paso Locomotive FC in the USL Championship, the second tier of professional soccer in the United States and Canada.

References

  1. ↑ "Squad List – FIFA U-20 World Cup Argentina 2023: USA" (PDF). FIFA. May 18, 2023. p. 23. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Diego Luna". Real Salt Lake. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Diego Luna". U.S. Soccer Development Academy . Archived from the original on May 9, 2021. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 "New Locomotive Crewmember signed! Barca Residency Academy's Midfielder Diego Luna". El Paso Herald-Post . April 5, 2021. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  5. 1 2 Ryan, Nate (April 5, 2021). "Locomotive FC sign 17-year old FC Barcelona Academy product". KVIA-TV . Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  6. ↑ "ideo+Story: Locomotive snag a point in final minute with 1–1 draw vs. New Mexico United". El Paso Herald-Post . May 8, 2021. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  7. ↑ Ryan, Nate (May 28, 2021). "17-year-old Diego Luna making immediate impact on veteran Locomotive FC roster". KVIA-TV . Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  8. 1 2 "Moon Shot! Luna scores first pro goal as Locos shut down Austin 1–0". El Paso Herald-Post . June 3, 2021. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  9. ↑ Murray, Nicholas. "Diego Luna leads USL alumni on United States Men's National Team roster". USLChampionship.com. USL Championship . Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  10. 1 2 3 "Diego Luna open to Mexico switch after U.S. snub". ESPN.com. July 23, 2024. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Twenty-Four Players Called for First USMNT January Training Camp Under Mauricio Pochettino". United States Soccer Federation . January 6, 2025. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  12. ↑ Boehm, Charles (January 23, 2025). "New USMNT hero? Diego Luna secures cult status". Major League Soccer . Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  13. ↑ Edler, Krysyan (January 23, 2025). "Watch: Real Salt Lake star breaks nose then assists with goal minutes later". Deseret News . Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  14. ↑ Chairez, Marcus (August 8, 2022). "2022 Youth Series: Top 20 Born In 2003".
  15. ↑ Diego Luna at Soccerway
  16. ↑ Diego Luna at National-Football-Teams.com
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.