When Diego Luna steps onto the pitch for Real Salt Lake, it’s hard not to notice the flair, the quick feet, the creative instincts, the nonstop energy. Just as striking, though, is the canvas of tattoos that traces his arms, hinting at a story far deeper than age 21 might suggest.
Each one carries meaning. All of them reflect a journey few young players have experienced, from a soccer-saturated childhood in Sunnyvale, California, to becoming the heartbeat of a club chasing trophies. His tattoos are windows into how Luna has processed distance, pressure, and personal growth — one needle prick at a time.
“It was always just an artistic thing and something that I enjoyed,” Luna told MLSsoccer.com. “I like how they look… and I’ve learned to use them as kind of therapy.”
Born into the Game
Luna grew up in a soccer household — the youngest of four siblings with a father, Alberto, who played professionally in the 1980s and later became a coach.
His training wasn’t limited to drills. It was also in the moments in between — juggling a ball on the sideline, soaking in the rhythm of the game.
“I was at the soccer field from 3:30 to around 8:30 p.m. every day,” he said. “I think it comes from having the ball at my feet five hours a day. You’re just playing with it. It builds your touch without even realizing it.”
Leaving home at 15
Despite his place in the San Jose Earthquakes academy and attention from U.S. youth national teams, Luna hit a plateau at 15. Feeling stuck, he made a bold decision: to leave home and chase his dream elsewhere.
He accepted a scholarship to Barça Residency Academy in Casa Grande, Arizona — an affiliate program of FC Barcelona. Within a week, he had packed up and moved.
His parents made sure he understood the weight of the decision — but they trusted him.
“You’re leaving your family. You’re giving up a lot,” Luna said. “It’s strictly soccer and academics. And if you’re not serious about that, you’re wasting your time.”
His parent’s consent to the first tattoo
That same year, Luna became an uncle for the first time — and the pain of missing his niece’s birth from miles away stuck with him.
When his parents visited, he asked them to sign off on a tattoo — a small cross and her birthdate. They agreed. That moment sparked a new outlet.
“The guy who did my tattoo told me that since my parents had already signed the waiver, they didn’t need to be there anymore for the others,” Luna said, laughing. “I was like, ‘Oh really?’”
From then on, the tattoos kept coming — some meaningful, others spontaneous — but each session became a form of emotional release.
“It relaxes me. It kind of takes out all the anger and emotions,” he said. “It helps me in a big way. I walk out of the tattoo shop feeling free.”
Mother and the Joker Tattoo
Whenever Luna scores, you’ll see him kiss his wrist, the one bearing his mother Susana’s name. It’s right next to the first tattoo he got for his niece, a reminder of how much home means to him.
He also sports a quote on his forearm from The Dark Knight’s Joker: “Why so serious?”
“I love The Joker — I think he’s a great character. But it’s a deeper meaning,” Luna explained. “You don’t always have to be so serious. Take things as they go.”
Luna is set to start for the USMNT in the next Gold Cup match against Guatemala, coming off a breakout performance against Costa Rica, where he scored his first international goal.
