Diego Rossi

Lore & Background

Rossi began playing football at the El Queso school in Solymar, later moving to the Solymar Uruguay Sports Center. At age 12, he joined Peñarol's academy after being discovered by Néstor Gonçalves. He made his professional debut for Peñarol in 2016 and transferred to Los Angeles FC in 2017, becoming one of the expansion club's first marquee signings. He scored the first goal in LAFC history and won the MLS Golden Boot in 2020. After four seasons with LAFC, he joined Fenerbahçe in 2021, initially on loan, then permanently, winning the 2022–23 Turkish Cup. He returned to MLS with Columbus Crew in 2023, winning the MLS Cup that year and a Leagues Cup in 2024. In 2026, he joined Monterrey.

In Their Own Story

The stadium was a cauldron. Banners dropped from the upper deck, the crowd noise a physical wall pressing against the glass. Rossi stood at the edge of the box, eyes tracking the ball like a hawk tracking a field mouse. The cross came in—high, looping, almost lazy. He didn't run at it. He waited. One beat. Two. Then the back-heel flick, the turn, the low drive across the keeper's body. The net rippled. He didn't celebrate wildly. Just a finger to the sky, a nod to the bench, and then he was already jogging back to position, already thinking about the next phase. Around him, the noise was deafening. In his head, it was quiet. That was the thing about Rossi: the chaos was everyone else's. His job was the one clean, cold moment in the middle of it all.

Reader's Guide

Rossi is a winger or forward. He is known for his prolific scoring in MLS, winning the Golden Boot in 2020. He has played for Peñarol, LAFC, Fenerbahçe, Columbus Crew, and Monterrey.

Did You Know?

• Rossi scored the first goal in LAFC history on 4 March 2018.
• He scored four goals in a single match against LA Galaxy on 18 July 2020.
• Rossi won the MLS Golden Boot in 2020 with 14 goals.
• He helped Columbus Crew win the MLS Cup in 2023 and the Leagues Cup in 2024.