Diego Luna (soccer, born 2003)

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*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2022 El Paso Locomotive 41 (13)
2022 Real Monarchs 3 (2)
2022– Real Salt Lake 69 (15)
International career‡
2021–2023 United States U20 21 (5)
2024 United States U23 1 (0)
2024– United States 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 6, 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of March 22, 2024

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.

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]

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.[11][10]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played October 6, 2024[12]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
El Paso Locomotive 2021 USL 31 9 — — 1[a] 0 32 9
2022 10 4 1 0 — — 11 4
Total 41 13 1 0 — 1 0 43 13
Real Monarchs 2022 MLS Next Pro 3 2 — — — 3 2
Real Salt Lake 2022 MLS 13 0 — — — 13 0
2023 23 5 2 0 4[b] 0 3[c] 2 32 7
2024 30 7 1 1 — — 31 8
Total 66 12 3 1 4 0 3 2 76 15
Career total 110 27 4 1 4 0 4 2 122 30
  1. ^ Appearance in USL Championship Playoffs
  2. ^ Appearances in Leagues Cup
  3. ^ Appearances in MLS Cup Playoffs

International

As of match played January 20, 2024[13]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
United States 2024 1 0
Total 1 0

Honors

United States U20

Individual

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. ^ a b c "New Locomotive Crewmember signed! Barca Residency Academy's Midfielder Diego Luna". El Paso Herald-Post. April 5, 2021. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  5. ^ a b 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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b c "Diego Luna open to Mexico switch after U.S. snub". ESPN.com. July 23, 2024. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  11. ^ Chairez, Marcus (August 8, 2022). "2022 Youth Series: Top 20 Born In 2003".
  12. ^ Diego Luna at Soccerway
  13. ^ Diego Luna at National-Football-Teams.com