From barrio to Bernabéu: the journey of a Salvadoran-American playmaker

When his family left El Salvador for Los Angeles, they brought one suitcase – and a worn-out football. That ball became the center of every afternoon in their new neighborhood.

Today, 19-year-old Mateo Flores is practicing on the same pitch where global superstars have made history. His move to Europe has become a point of orgullo for Salvadoran and Central American fans in the US.

Flores often posts bilingual messages to his followers, switching between English and Spanish in the same sentence. He thanks both LA and his parents' home country for his journey.

Local community coaches hope his story will push more scouts to look for talent in immigrant neighborhoods, where fútbol is played on any surface available.

"I want kids to know that it's possible," he says. "You can grow up playing in the barrio and still dream of the Bernabéu."