2025 is here, and we are only a year away from the World Cup in the U.S.

For Diego Luna, time is quickly running out to establish himself in the USMNT squad before the World Cup. However, he is still going to put his head down and work hard to achieve his dreams. That’s what he’s done all his life.

This is his story.

Luna was born in Sunnyvale, California. Growing up in a Mexican household, he quickly fell in love with soccer as a kid, and joined the Palo Alto Soccer Club.

His talents were spotted early on and the young midfielder then joined the San Jose Earthquakes academy. He played in various tournaments for them and started to make his name at the higher level.

When he was around 15, Luna took a gamble. He decided to leave the Earthquakes academy, which offered a pathway to MLS, to instead enroll in a newly-opened Barcelona Residency Academy in Arizona.

Then, he took another gamble. By the time Luna was 17, he decided he was ready to be a professional and signed with El Paso Locomotive in the USL Championship.

Around the same time, the midfielder started earning call-ups for the U.S. U-20s, making American soccer fans become familiar with his name.

His gamble to move to El Paso paid off. Just a year later, he moved to MLS side Real Salt Lake in a then-record transfer fee for the USL Championship— $250,000.

Moving to Real Salt Lake was far from easy, both on and off the pitch. Luna was just your typical 18-year-old loner who was shy and didn’t like talking to people. Living on his own in a place where he didn’t know anyone, he knew he had to improve his social skills. 

So what did he do? He went out to get a part-time job at Dutch Bros while playing for Real Monarchs in MLS NEXT PRO. 

“Going out to parties and meeting people. That just wasn’t my thing,” Luna said in a video with MLS. 

“I went through the whole double interview. I put my resume in with professional soccer player. They hired me, and it was a super-fun experience to work on my social skills and to keep conversations going and to meet new people and to see what a cup of coffee in midday does to someone.” 

It worked. Not only has he won trophies with the U.S. U-20 squad and even debuted for the USMNT, he’s also a lot more comfortable interacting with teammates in camps, being able to express himself more both on and off the pitch, and doing interviews with the media. 

He’s also become a more well-rounded person, even becoming a father in September 2023, two days before he turned 20. 

That’s not all. Luna sees a therapist regularly and has a notebook that has affirmations, breathing exercises, power poses, and things that can put his mind in the right place. 

Here are some of the affirmations he reads regularly: “I have what it takes to create a life I want”, “I am successful”, “I am talented”, “Money flows well in my life”, “I am healthy and strong”, “I am healing all areas of my life”, “Everything always works out for the best”, “Remember to stay positive”, “Today is a great day for success”. 

Luna says many people may not believe in stuff like this but it helps him tremendously with his mental state and that’s going to make him successful on the pitch and become a better person for his family and his teammates off the pitch.

“As a young player, you’re going through a lot of pressure, and a lot of things go on outside of soccer too,” he told CBS Sports in an interview.

“So to have your mental health be good is gonna allow you to perform on the field. Talking to a therapist, releasing your issues and stress, finding solutions and adding to your mental toolbox, and handling certain situations is something I’ve learned the past year and this year. That has allowed me to be successful on the field.” 

“There are people afraid of getting help or thinking they’re weak because they’re using therapy. No, this is all okay. These are things we need to do, it will help you in long term. It helped me and it will help a lot of people.” 

“Also, I’m leaning out a little bit. Just figuring out what’s the right weight for me, and this off-season, I’m trying to grind so I can come flying next year.”

Luna just had a great year, playing 31 games in MLS where he scored eight goals and had 12 assists. He helped Real Salt Lake get into the playoffs, and was given the Best Young Player award in MLS and got called up to the All-Star game. All at the age of 21.

The midfielder also made his USMNT debut last January. Unfortunately for him, he didn't hear back from the team for the rest of the year.

“I have not had conversations or phones calls with anyone from the U.S. staff. I haven’t heard from México either,” Luna said in the same interview with CBS Sports back in November.

“I’m just continuing to work and waiting for my chance to get called-up. I want to prove myself in those opportunities I get.” 

Luna did get a call back from the USMNT recently, to join his second January camp. It will be a great opportunity for him to make a good first impression under Mauricio Pochettino.

Currently playing in Real Salt Lake under Pablo Mastroeni, a former USMNT midfielder who played in two World Cups, Luna knows if he follows the advice of his manager, he too can play in the World Cup one day.

His story so far has been incredible, and shows that he is wiling to take gambles to get to where he wants to be.

To leaving an MLS academy for a new residency academy, to signing with a USL Championship at 17, to working at a coffee shop while playing professionally, Luna is willing to do whatever it takes to succeed as a player.

He had a great 2024, and he is coming back in an even stronger fashion for 2025. Watch out for this kid.