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Being the brand new child on the block isn’t straightforward—particularly when that block is in Los Angeles. Edwin Cerrillo’s arrival in LA got here with a transparent mission: reinvention.
Stepping off the aircraft at LAX after his journey from Dallas, Cerrillo, as soon as a self-proclaimed shy particular person, shortly embraced the highlight. From making an look in a preferred YouTube video by Chicos Tóxicos to refining his fashion and vogue, profitable an MLS championship, and standing “ten toes down” in opposition to the best soccer participant of all time, Cerrillo’s begin to his LA Galaxy profession has been nothing in need of star-studded.
Cerrillo’s rise was meteoric. From the very first recreation of the common season, soccer followers around the globe have been desirous to study extra about him. In that match, Inter Miami CF visited the LA Galaxy, and Lionel Messi discovered himself marked by a younger, promising midfielder who had but to begin greater than 10 video games for the Galaxy: Edwin Cerrillo. All through the match, Cerrillo shadowed Messi relentlessly, even partaking in a face-to-face confrontation with the legendary participant—a daring transfer for the previous U20 World Cup USYNT participant.
It was the sort of second that catapulted Cerrillo into the highlight, and inside days, he turned a sizzling matter in press conferences, Instagram posts, Twitter quotes, and numerous articles. The highlight was on him, and immediately, it was not possible for him to cover within the shadows.
Amid the whirlwind of consideration, Cerrillo did one thing few MLS gamers dare to do: he went undercover in a video created by Chicos Tóxicos. Donning a ski masks, Cerrillo took on challengers in a 1v1 soccer duel with $500 on the road, absolutely embracing his newfound hype by collaborating with a few of his favourite YouTube creators—even when it meant stepping outdoors of his consolation zone. It was a daring transfer, not simply when it comes to his public persona, but additionally as a strategy to join along with his followers in a completely totally different realm.
The video confirmed a lighter, extra playful aspect to the younger midfielder, particularly after the world had simply witnessed his fierce stare-down with Messi. Cerrillo had enjoyable with the expertise, proving that even within the face of newfound fame, he may stay grounded and have fun. Reflecting on the expertise, Cerrillo shared, “They’re good youngsters. They’ve their very own profession path, however they’re real. They make me giggle, as they do thousands and thousands of different folks. A superb expertise.”
The MLS model of an Uncle Drew-style video is bound to be remembered for years to come back, capturing a novel chapter in Cerrillo’s journey that many followers didn’t see coming.
Even amidst the joy of changing into an expert soccer participant, Cerrillo by no means overpassed his want for progress—each on and off the sector. Regardless of having performed over 80 video games for FC Dallas, he felt there was extra to perform. The transfer to Los Angeles supplied the best setting for that evolution. “I feel after I was in Dallas, I bought very complacent and thought I’d be there for a pair extra years. However issues can change quick,” he defined.
Arriving in LA alone, with out associates or household, pushed him to open up in methods he hadn’t earlier than. “Going into a brand new metropolis with no associates, no household—actually, actually on my own—pushed me to be extra open and to be extra of myself from the beginning.” Style, a ardour he’d at all times had, turned a brand new type of self-expression, one thing LA provided in methods Dallas hadn’t.
When Cerrillo felt good off the sector, it translated to his play on the sector. That newfound confidence added swagger to his recreation, and when requested about what modified this season, he shared, “It helps once you win the championship; it provides you just a little bit extra swagger.”
By the top of the season, Cerrillo was celebrating as an MLS Champion, enjoying a vital position in serving to the Galaxy elevate “la sexta” with a number of key performances. Nonetheless, earlier than he may actually savor the victory, the fact of MLS hit shortly. Simply after the ultimate, with everybody nonetheless reveling within the championship, two of his teammates, Gaston Brugman and Jalen Neal, have been traded out of Los Angeles. “Simply after the ultimate, all people’s nonetheless celebrating, after which subsequent factor , your boys are leaving—your boys off to who is aware of the place,” Cerrillo mirrored.
“And the very first thing that involves thoughts is, that is MLS. You make it to the ultimate, and issues have to maneuver fairly quick… So, it’s one thing I’ve tailored to, sort of realizing how issues work, particularly after I bought traded from Dallas to LA.” The abruptness of the trades underscored the fast-paced, unpredictable nature {of professional} soccer, however Cerrillo has come to simply accept this as a part of the sport.
Because the 2025 MLS season attracts nearer, Cerrillo’s focus isn’t solely on profitable a report seventh MLS Cup for the Galaxy. Though he represented the US on the youth degree, Cerrillo’s roots run deep in Mexico. He grew up with two Mexican dad and mom and fondly remembers attending his dad’s soccer video games along with his two brothers. Soccer was instilled in him from a younger age, and it continues to function a manner for him to remain related to his heritage and household.
“I feel a aim of mine—not only for this subsequent 12 months however since I began my skilled profession—has been to make a nationwide crew,” Cerrillo shared. “I’m Mexican-American, and I feel I’m a 200-percenter, as some folks say. My dad and mom are from Mexico, and it’s no secret that I’m very, very pleased with my Mexican tradition, however I additionally really feel very American. I’ve by no means been within the place to decide on, so I don’t understand how that may go. However for now, I’m simply going to work laborious to get a nationwide crew call-up and determine what’s finest for me at that second.”
Waiting for the 2025 MLS season, Cerrillo’s journey from a shy newcomer to an MLS champion is a testomony to progress, resilience, and the braveness to embrace new challenges. From the stress of dealing with Lionel Messi to the non-public transformation that got here with relocating to Los Angeles, Cerrillo has confirmed that he’s not simply right here to play soccer—he’s right here to make a long-lasting affect within the Metropolis of Angels.
