Mental fortitude and a Dutch Bros latte: How RSL's Diego Luna went from Moon Boy to shining star
Diego Luna's journey toward being a key cog in Real Salt Lake's West-leading squad didn't just start on the training pitch at Zions Bank Real Academy. It started at a nearby Dutch Bros coffee shop.
Diego Luna was feeling out of sorts.
Shortly after his move from USL Championship side El Paso to Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer, Luna felt like “a loner,” to use his own word, stuck to himself even while training with RSL. He mostly stuck to himself for his first month, and didn’t get out much or meet new people.
So in an attempt to broaden his social skills and learn a new place, he did what plenty of 19-year-old young men in a similar position would do: He got a job.
Luna went to his local Dutch Bros coffee shop, and filed an application. The native of Sunnyvale, California, even put “professional soccer player” on his resume.
“They hired me, and it was a super fun experience, to work on my social skills, to keep conversations going, and to meet new people,” Luna said during an episode of “Breakaway” on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. “You kind of see what a cup of coffee in the middle of the day does for someone.
“Getting that job at the coffee shop … I think it definitely helped build my confidence outside of soccer, but it also led to on-the-field. You’re not shy, not afraid of anything, and to be able to be yourself and play like yourself, to have confidence, is one of the most successful things in this career.”
Luna has also been open about his mental health struggles, including the improvement he earned after seeing a therapist to help him work through his struggles.
Part of his therapy has involved a notebook he keeps with him, one that contains breathing exercises, affirmations, power poses and “things to just think about to get your mind in the right place.”
Some of those affirmations, which he recited in the video by Starting Eleven, include:
“I have what it takes to create the life I want.”
“I am successful.”
“I am talented.”
“Money flows well in my life.”
“I am healthy and strong.”
“I’m healing all areas of my life.”
“Everything always works out for the best.”
“Remember to stay positive.”
“Today is a great day for success.”
“I don’t think it’s a coincidence that my first week of having it after my first session with my therapist that I scored my first goal,” he posited.
The part-time left-winger and attacking midfielder has been a key cog in Real Salt Lake’s 15-match unbeaten run that has the club on top of the Western Conference. After his two-assist performance in Wednesday’s 4-3 win over Sporting Kansas City, Luna now has three goals and nine assists in 1,177 minutes across 17 matches (including 14 starts).
At 20 years and 286 days, he’s the youngest player in club history to record 20 career goal contributions.
“Throughout this year, and I’m not afraid to say it, my performance has not been where it’s supposed to be, and where I know it can be,” Luna admitted. “I think a lot of that had to do with where my head was at, and the things I was dealing with — and how I was processing them.
“I think a lot of people of people should not be afraid of seeking him. Once they do, they’re going to realize that they’ve been missing out.”