Real Salt Lake is a club directly influenced by Hispanic and Latin American culture through its players, coaches, and staff. This year, the club decided to celebrate Hispanic and Latino Heritage Month in a unique way: each player of this background, along with a member of the coaching staff, submitted a DNA kit to trace their ethnic backgrounds and genetic heritage. While the results of each test remain confidential, their reactions to discovering their heritage reflected the significance of their cultures in their lives.
To provide context, each participant in this project collected a saliva or cheek swab sample, which was sent to a lab for DNA analysis to reveal detailed information about their backgrounds. Once the analysis was complete, the results were compiled into a report and sent to the participants, allowing them to learn more about their heritage.
Diego Luna
Among the most eager to take part in this project was RSL’s leading goalscorer and U.S. Men’s National Team representative, Diego Luna. From the moment we sat down with him, he was thrilled to learn more about his heritage, as he had never done anything like this before. The California native has openly shared his family ties to México on numerous occasions; however, beyond that, he was unsure what else shaped his ancestry.
“Hispanic heritage is big for me, coming from a Mexican household. For my family, it’s huge for me to represent the Hispanic and Latino community. Understanding that I’m American, but also acknowledging my Hispanic background and the Latino community that has supported me as fans, I think it’s a big thing for me.”
Upon seeing the results of his test, he admitted that he would be interested to further explore his lineage even beyond what he had in front of him. “I’d definitely look into it, talk to my parents about some stuff and figure it out. It's pretty cool.”
He continued, “It's cool to acknowledge and see what your background is and dive into it if you really want to because you live your whole life not knowing.”
Over the past couple of seasons, the RSL fanbase has shown Luna tremendous support as he has continued to grow on and off the pitch, building a close connection with them. As he reflected on what this month means to him, he made sure to emphasize the impact they’ve had on him.
Rwan Cruz
The second player we sat down with was RSL’s most recent signing, Rwan Cruz. Some may not realize but Brazil is a major component of Hispanic and Latino heritage. While it is the only non-spanish speaking country of the lot, many Brazilians like Cruz acknowledge their Latino heritage and take part in the month-long celebration.
As he looked at his results, his face lit up with intrigue, revealing the excitement of learning new things about himself in real time. “It’s the first time I’m doing a test like this.” He began asking questions to confirm what he was seeing and, in the process, started forming a connection between the information before him and what he knew about his family growing up.
Cruz confirmed that he sees the results reflected in aspects of his daily life, such as “language and music.” Additionally, drawing on his Brazilian influence, he noted that other countries “do the same things” when it comes to customs and traditions.
Having never done something like this before, he recognizes the value it can have for someone who wants to learn more about their ancestral roots. “Many people want to know their origins and where they come from, so it’s good to know that.”
Pablo Ruiz
The longest-tenured Hispanic/Latino player on RSL’s roster is Argentina native Pablo Ruiz. Born in the province of Chubut in southern Argentina, Ruiz arrived in Utah in 2018 and has played a major role for the club ever since. Although he has spent seven years in Utah and more than a decade away from home, he admits that his bond with Argentina remains as strong as ever—just like his drive to succeed.
“Argentina may go through many difficult things, but you will never stop loving your own country because it’s something you feel. For example, every time I return to Argentina, I feel a strong connection with my city and my country because I left when I was very young. I think that’s the advantage of the Argentine player—when he truly chases a dream. You lose your childhood, you miss birthdays, family members you’ll never see again. But in your mind you have this mentality that says, ‘I want to make it,’ and you achieve it. Argentines make it because they have that mentality.”
Upon seeing the results of his genetic heritage, Ruiz was relieved to be able to confirm information that was passed down to him from his parents. At the same time, he was surprised to learn things about himself that he hadn’t known prior. As this occurred, he began to notice parallels between his culture and those represented by the countries in his results.
“Obviously we all have different cultures. I happened to be near Germany—actually, Austria—and what really struck me was the way people live there. I will always respect every culture, just as I would like them to respect mine. But yes, in many ways I do see similarities.”
On the pitch, he believes his country and culture give him an extra edge, motivating him to give his all. “An Argentine, when it comes time to play, is someone who always gives 100%. The same goes for a Spaniard or a German who has that ingrained in them and says, ‘If I step onto the field, I have to go out there to win no matter what, and I’ll give everything.’ I identify deeply with Argentina because Argentines have that extra edge—they always give a little more than they have. Even if you’re tired, exhausted, or even injured, the Argentine always has that something extra.”
Ruiz admits that Hispanic and Latino Heritage Month means a lot to him because it reflects the journeys of those who have come to the country seeking a better life. He relates it to a soccer player’s dream of turning pro, not only for their own professional success but for their family’s too.
Parallel to that growth, he acknowledges the expansion of Utah’s Hispanic and Latino community since his arrival to the club. “In the seven years I’ve been here, Utah in particular has changed and grown a lot in many ways. When I arrived in 2018, Utah was a very American state where Spanish wasn’t spoken. Today, there are many Latino people, and it is much more diverse in every way. Everything has grown. There is a lot of opportunity here in the United States and in Utah, more than ever.”
Jesus Barea
Next, it was Jesus Barea’s turn. The Spanish player, originally from Cádiz, was excited to take part in this project and lent an interesting perspective on tests such as these. “I think they’re very good for knowing where you come from, for knowing your past. Everyone is their own world. For those who are truly interested, the results show that you have connections to different countries, and I think that’s very interesting.”
When he steps on the pitch—whether asserting himself as a prolific goalscorer with the Monarchs or proving himself to the coaching staff for first-team minutes—he says his Spanish pride comes through.
“When I play, I feel Spanish in a way because I bring something that I don’t see from other countries. That grit, that energy and I think it comes from when I was very young. Since we were kids, we were always taught that football is a sport, but if you’re going to play it, it’s life. You’re putting your job on the line against the person in front of you, and as a Spaniard, I think I have that character, that willpower that pushes me and tells me, ‘keep going, keep going, keep going.’ I feel very privileged to be Spanish, to be the only one on this team, and to represent it.”
Since the celebration is exclusive to the United States, when Barea moved to the country and experienced it firsthand, he began to appreciate the positive recognition these communities receive for the impact they have in the U.S.
“This is the first time I’ve heard about it. It makes me proud that there is a month dedicated to people from my country, to my language. There are always special days like Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, and having a Latino and Hispanic month is a source of pride.”
Stay tuned for part 2 as we continue to explore the Hispanic and Latino heritage of Real Salt Lake’s stars, including Brazilian captain Rafael Cabral.
