Jonathan Zuniga has long admired soccer star Javier 鈥淐hicharito鈥� Hern谩ndez, Mexico鈥檚 all-time leading goal scorer.
Ten-year old Jonathan plays soccer almost daily and can be found on the soccer field in his Pleasant Grove neighborhood with his family most evenings.
"I would say that it has always been a dream to meet him, because in my soccer team, they also call me Chicharito because I play like him,鈥� Zuniga told 四虎影院 in Spanish. 鈥淓ver since they started calling me Chicharito I have always wanted to meet him.鈥�
The dream seems closer to coming true these days: Hern谩ndez, affectionately called Chicharito by fans, has signed as Atl茅tico Dallas鈥� first player. The expansion club will play at the Cotton Bowl beginning in 2027 as part of the USL Championship league.
Fresh off his stint as a FIFA World Cup commentator for Fox Sports, Hern谩ndez formally introduced himself at a news conference Wednesday morning at the Cotton Bowl. A few weeks ago, he hinted about the possibility of staying in Dallas.
Hern谩ndez said the city has always made him feel at home.
鈥淎nd now I can call Dallas my home,鈥� he said.
Generations of Chicharito fans
Jonathan, his two brothers, Giovanni and Carlos, and parents, Alma and Juan Carlos, have all been Chicharito fans since he played with the Chivas de Guadalajara. Jonathan has been wearing a Chivas jersey since he was an infant.
Jonathan said he hopes to play professional soccer like Hern谩ndez someday. He has studied Hernandez鈥檚 playing style and can cite his favorite goals.
鈥淚 like the goals he scored in the World Cups, like in 2010 against France and then in 2014 against Croatia and then 2018 against Korea,鈥� Jonathan said. "In his first game with Real Madrid, I liked his two goals that he scored. When he played against Manchester United, who were losing 2-0 against Aston Villa, I liked the three goals he scored too.鈥�
Hern谩ndez has been posting about his journey to Dallas on social media 鈥� and there have been , including at popular taqueria Chilangos Tacos. That has the Zuniga family intrigued.
鈥淲e usually go to that taqueria,鈥� said Alma Perez, Jonathan鈥檚 mom. 鈥淏ut we didn鈥檛 go that day. We missed him.鈥�
Perez said when she heard the news of Chicharito signing with a Dallas team, she couldn鈥檛 believe it.
鈥淣ow that he's in Dallas, there's a chance that my children and my husband will get to know him,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e were all happy because there are more possibilities of meeting a player from the Chivas, from the Mexican national team who has played in several foreign teams.鈥�
Hern谩ndez played in three World Cups with the Mexican national team. Throughout his decades-long career he also played with Manchester United, Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, West Ham United, Sevilla and the LA Galaxy.
Jacob Huerta, director of the nonprofit Dallas Youth Sports, said Hern谩ndez coming to Dallas is important for generations who grew up watching Chicharito play, and for younger generations, 鈥渆specially with the hype鈥� from the FIFA World Cup in North Texas.
鈥淲e saw that with our league, the amount of kids who wanted to play soccer joining the sport,鈥� Huerta said. 鈥淎nd this right here with Chicharito playing with Atl茅tico Dallas at the Cotton Bowl close to our communities here in southern Dallas, I think this is a great opportunity for families and kids to come see play and get inspired by him and continue to play soccer.鈥�
Huerta and his father, Dallas Park Board member JR Huerta, are looking forward to seeing young players inspired by Chicharito playing in Dallas.
鈥淲hat this means for Dallas and for ... the young athletes here is phenomenal,鈥� JR Huerta said. 鈥淏ecause when you have a star, a superstar like this come to your city to play in your city of Dallas, it just elevates us to another level.
"And just imagining the kids come here and get to see him in person. And also the dads鈥攂ecause the dads grew up watching him.鈥�
Priscilla Rice is 四虎影院鈥檚 communities reporter. Got a tip? Email her at price@kera.org.
四虎影院 is made possible through the generosity of our members. If you find this reporting valuable, consider . Thank you.
