Having played in two youth World Cups and one senior Club World Cup, Abraham Romero has seen the glamor that professional soccer has to offer. But he's no stranger to its struggle either. He was ready to retire following his 2020 season with LA Galaxy II, and despite signing with Orange County SC, he still had to work a construction job during the season to help make ends meet.

In the turbulent world of professional sports, things can change up on you quickly. One moment you've felt like you made it, and the next you're struggling to tread water. Romero's resolve and perseverance have kept him afloat over the past two years, but there is plenty of grinding left to do in his career.

We sit down with the 24-year-old goalkeeper, currently with the Las Vegas Lights, to discuss the rigorous travel between training in LA and playing home games in Las Vegas (02:59), the not-so-glamorous aspects of being a pro athlete (05:25), changing between 3 teams in 3 years and getting assimilated with Las Vegas Lights (10:40), the difference between average keepers and elite keepers (13:30), playing in the U17 and U20 World Cups with the Mexican national team (15:32), what it was like playing alongside Julio in rec league (18:58), the cars he's driving around, and how he got into cars (22:28), playing with both the US and Mexican youth national teams (25:01), how he stays grounded through all the constant change throughout his life (29:00), what is next for him and the struggle of looking for a new team in the offseason (31:10), the great food he had in Mexico and the difference in professionalism between the US and Mexico (38:06), how some of his World Cup teammates are currently faring (41:57), the difficulties of being a kid by himself in Mexico (44:40), and how Zlatan Ibrahimovic got Gigi Buffon to send him a video (46:49), before taking on Julio's rapid fire round (53:40).

This podcast was supported by Bet Online.

Cast

Hosts: Ramsey Abushahla, Julio Monterroza, & Brigitte Flores

Producer: Roy Cho

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