Family means everything to Sounders midfielder Cristian Roldan.
Originally from Los Angeles, Cristian was born into a family-oriented environment, centered around the traditions and ideals his parents experienced growing up in Guatemala and El Salvador.
“What [Cristian] learned from us was how to be responsible and to do what you like and to do it well,” said Cristian’s father, César. “And that's something [he’s] going to be able to pass on to his children.”
César left Guatemala and headed to the United States at 21 years old to not only enhance his career in auto mechanics but also ensure a life where he could support a family of his own.
“I grew up in a very close-knit family,” said César. “We lacked nothing, we were given [the opportunity to] study, but, the time comes when you have to start making your own life too, because parents have other children to help. So, being the oldest, I had to find a way to make my own life.”
Roldan’s mother, Ana, shared a similar situation, initially leaving El Salvador to reside in Houston, before moving to Los Angeles and meeting César.
“We always want to improve and [give the best for] our family,” she said.
As soon as the couple began growing a family of their own, it was about emulating what they learned from their immediate families back in their home countries and providing those same values for Cristian and his two brothers.
“I have always said that when one already has a family, every free minute you have is for your children,” said César. “And I think that's how we both did it, both she and I.”
The two parents made sacrifices for their children to set them up for a successful life, just as their parents did when they were young.
This was especially true when it came to their dedication to helping Cristian achieve a career in soccer.
“The days that we had to go to the tournaments, I would arrive on Saturdays at 7 in the morning and would just take a quick shower and would get in the car to go to the tournaments,” said César. “And sometimes there were up to three matches, and I would sleep in between matches, in the car.”
“Those were sacrifices that had to be made and now I can see the results and that it was a good investment.”
Outside of soccer, his parents taught Cristian and his brothers about the Guatemalan and El Salvadoran cultures through learning the Spanish language, eating foods from their countries of origin and traveling to Central America to delve deeper into their roots.
“Those trips changed my life,” said Cristian. “I remember the memories of being there, where [my parents] grew up, watching soccer, the passion that comes with that, and how hard [they] worked there.”
This approach to parenthood resonated with Cristian, and with the recent birth of his daughter, Mia, he hopes he can mirror that same experience for her.
“It would be nice to be able to do that with my family so that they, too, can get to know where we come from,” said Cristian.
His wife, Ciana, has been supportive in making sure that these traditions will be part of their daughter’s life.
“I’m thankful she wants to pass down not just her cultural traditions that she has in her family, but she's on board with trying to teach Mia Spanish, to eat while the food's hot, like the little things that our family does, she's bought into that, and so that's been a huge blessing, because that's something that I've always dreamt of passing along.”
Mia’s birth has put things in perspective for Cristian as he approaches his new chapter of fatherhood.
“Oftentimes you don't realize how selfish you are until you have a kid,” said Cristian. “You want all this time and all you care about is performing and now it's much bigger. It's [about] my family, how their health is that day and how I can be there for them.”
Fatherhood has given him a space to not only “evolve as a person,” but incorporate new traditions for Mia while continuing to emphasize those that are already part of his life.
“Along with the values and traditions that my parents have given to me, I'm also creating my own path as a father, as a husband, as a leader of the team, and creating my own journey as well,” said Cristian. “And so it's been a beautiful blessing, I think, to also create my own path in that regard.”
While Cristian embarks on a new chapter of his life, having that constant support system of his parents and overall family continues to be vital as he balances his career and the unknown territory of being a father.
“The grandparents have been super helpful, and I don't think we could do it without them here to support us,” said Ciana.
Cristian felt a similar appreciation for his family in 2023, when he suffered multiple concussions that kept him from playing a significant portion of the regular season.
“Last year was very difficult for me, in particular, having a concussion and suffering with some anxiety and depression along with it,” said Cristian. “Oftentimes it gets swept under the rug, just having to carry on with your life and try to get back onto the field, but I was in a dark place.”
His family’s support allowed him to get back on his feet after recovery.
“I leaned on Ciana and my family to be able to get out,” said Cristian. “I'm usually a person that brings a lot of energy to the locker room or just everyday life and it was difficult for me to be myself and provide for the people that respond to my energy. And so being able to open up and talk about these things with my loved ones definitely gave me a different perspective on depression, anxiety, and injury and being able to get closer together [with them] was the silver lining on top of all of it.”
Whether it be his happiest moment in life of having his first child, or one of his lowest, undergoing a serious head injury, his family’s presence has remained constant, no matter the circumstances.
“Having symptoms through a concussion is not easy, and on top of that, not knowing what's next for you is not easy, and just being able to kind of lean on the person right by you is what got me through all of that, and will continue to get me through, the lows of life,” said Cristian. “And so that's why we feel that family is so important to get through those tough times.”
