'We aren't just machines; we're humans' – The decorated midfielder opens up on life, career, letting the world get to know him
"When it's more deep, speaking Spanish is way easier for me. Sometimes, you just want to express things in different ways."
Jonathan dos Santos sets the tone from the start. His English is just about perfect, although the man himself isn't willing to admit it. He's been speaking it publicly for years. Throughout the course of the interview, Dos Santos understands every question, ponders, and then switches right into Spanish.
If this interview was about a result or a goal or a trophy, he'd conduct it in English. Before and after the questions begin, he's fluent as can be, laughing and joking about everything from the language switches to the Leagues Cup. It comes easy to him.
But that isn't what this interview is about. No, this is about something a bit more personal, a bit more, as he says, deep: himself.
The 34-year-old midfielder has been in the spotlight for nearly two decades. The world watched him, alongside older brother Gio, take two continents by storm. People watched him go from Barcelona youngster to Mexico star, from teenage starlet in Spain to 34-year-old maestro pulling the strings for arguably Liga MX's biggest club. So much of his life has been lived in the public eye, which can seem twice as hard when you're playing in the spotlight before passionate fans in Mexico.
But, for all the watching the outside world did, Dos Santos isn't fully sure that there was much understanding. People have seen him, but do they know him? The world has seen the midfielder, but have they seen the person?
That's the topic for this interview, and that's why he's speaking in Spanish – to be precise, to be thoughtful, to ensure that he gets his points across. After all of these years with the world watching from afar, Dos Santos is ready to offer a closer look.
"We aren't just machines; we're humans," Dos Santos says. "We like to live our lives apart from soccer. I like fashion, I like travel, I like being with family and friends. Sometimes when we get a chance, I like to go out to parties. I know as a soccer player, you need to be focused on your game but you also need to enjoy life.
"Players are even more open to showing their lives outside soccer now, and the people like it. I think before, people used to think that maybe you won't be focused on your game if you get to live your life, but I think you could be focused on both. Really, you just need to be happy."
Dos Santos sat down for with GOAL for an exclusive, wide-ranging discussion, touching on the things that make him happy, his views on American and Mexican soccer and how he intends to let fans see another side.
@GettyNearing the end
Dos Santos is a realist. He's 34 years old. It's been 15 years since he made his debut for both Barcelona and Mexico. He's a lot closer to the end of his career than the beginning, and he knows it.
It's one of the reasons he signed with Club America in 2021. The midfielder had spent the entirety of his career away from home. From age 12 to 27, he was in Spain. From 27 to 31, he was in the U.S. By 2021, he wanted to spend time at home. For the first time in his career, he had the chance to play in Mexico.
He experienced all you can experience prior. He played sparingly at Barcelona after rising through La Masia, but he was with the club during its prime years. La Liga titles, Champions League, Club World Cups, Supercopas, a Copa del Rey – they're all on his resume.
Villarreal unleashed him, as he became a La Liga star with the Yellow Submarine. With the LA Galaxy, he was a two-time MLS All-Star. He went to a World Cup and won two Gold Cups with Mexico. Since joining America, he's won the league twice, claimed a Campeon de Campeones trophy and lifted the Supercopa. It's already been wildly successful.
You wouldn't blame him for lacking motivation in these final years. Of course, that's not the case
That motivation is still there, even if it's tempered these days. He's not as desperate to prove himself. He's not motivated by national team call-ups or transfers or impressing others. These days, it's just trophies and himself. That's all that matters.
"I'm almost at the end of my career," he admits. "Even if I have won everything, I know I want more. I want to keep winning with America. I have four championships with this club, but my dream is the same: make history and grow as a player. I know I still have lots to give, but I also enjoy being with family because before I did not have that chance due to travels and playing in Europe.
"It's so sad. I'm so close to the end of my career but I know everything comes to an end. I just want to keep enjoying it, playing for Club America and winning."
Advertisement@GettyThe real Jona Dos Santos
Perhaps the inevitable has him thinking. How does he set himself up for a life without soccer? What can he do to connect with people? What's next for Jonathan dos Santos? The answer is surprising: OnlyFans.
For many, OnlyFans carries a certain salacious connotation. Dos Santos is one of several star athletes looking to change that. The Mexico star has started his own profile on the subscription service, which he says gives him the chance to connect with fans in ways that he can't on other social media platforms. He says that's his goal: to have a new way to interact with people who haven't had the opportunity to get to know him before.
"I know that people don't know a lot about me," he says, "but now with this platform, which isn't just adult content, I can be closer to my fans. I want them to be like family. I'm happy that they can reach out to me. How can I say no? I'm really looking forward to starting this adventure.
"For me, the most important thing is for fans to know who Jona dos Santos is. I want them to see training days but also outside life, so I'm very excited to start showing them."
As for what he plans to post, Dos Santos says it's a little bit of everything. He wants to show aspiring players his workouts and tips that are part of his routine. He wants to show how he spends his off days. He wants to show the quiet moments in his life just as much as the loud ones. Those are the ones that make him who he is, after all.
He wants to emphasize his other passions and, with his career winding down, he has the chance to explore them.
"I love soccer but I also love fashion," he says "I want them to see that I'm not just a soccer player and really get to know me as a person. It's a little bit of everything and I hope they get to know me in every way: my family, teammates, my friends. What does a soccer player live like behind the scenes? I want them to really get to know what a soccer player lives every day."
Both sides of a rivalry
As a soccer player, particularly in North America, Dos Santos' perspective is unique. He's lived and experienced both sides of this region's greatest rivalry. He understands it better than almost anyone.
Starting with the obvious, he knows Mexican soccer. For both club and country, Dos Santos has years of experience. Even though a large chunk of his career was spent in Europe, he gets the Mexican game.
He also gets the American side. Thanks to his years with the LA Galaxy, Dos Santos has had a first-hand look at the ever-changing MLS. His respect in the league remains even years after his departure, as the recent MLS All-Star game showed how many friends he still has in the U.S.
The Mexico-U.S. rivalry is in an odd place at the moment. On the field, the U.S. men's national team has dominated, getting several huge wins over their southern neighbors. In the board room, though, the two countries have never been closer. In addition to their shared 2026 World Cup hosting duties (along with Canada), the two countries are also tied connected by the Leagues Cup, in which MLS clubs compete with their Liga MX counterparts.
So how does he see the rivalry? Is it softening, lukewarm, or heating up?
"The rivalry between Mexico and the U.S. has always been big, inside and outside of the field, but the U.S. is doing very well," he says. "They've grown the sport and are really good right now. Most players are going to Europe to play, which is one of the big dreams for either Mexican or American soccer players.
"But, also, Mexico's league has a big history. Many historic players came to play here and now MLS is having more players coming in. Being so close helps us both. The rivalry won't ever change but our soccer will be better and will grow."
More, more more
The Leagues Cup is part of that growth. This year's tournament has, admittedly, lacked the magic of the 2203 edition. Lifted by the arrival of Lionel Messi at Inter Miami, the last year's competition suddently became appointment viewing. The 2024 edition has been less so, as controversy around format changes and a lack of Messi – injured during the Copa America final – have led to declining attendance.
"Last year, we didn't quite get how this tournament was going to be," Dos Santos admitted, "but then we saw Messi coming in and becoming a champion. Everything is so professional, very well organized, and seen by everyone around the world, so that makes this tournament more special because now we know what we are playing for.
"It's important for our club and our league. Club America is well-known globally and this is a great way for players to be able to prove themselves to have a chance to go to Europe. Now [because of Messi], everyone is talking about it."
America have had a so-so start to their Apertura season. They've won two and lost two but, as a result of their performances in recent tournaments, they earned a bye to the knockouts in this season's Leagues Cup.
Their run starts on Friday in the Round of 32. They'll face a familiar foe, Atlas. From there? Who knows? Dos Santos and America aren't looking too far ahead, even if they are among the favorites.
"In soccer, anything can happen," he says. "You could be the greatest team and you can lose to any other team…Any MLS team can beat any Liga MX team. Club America could be one of the favorites. We need to play and see what happens. It's going to be tough, but I really hope, this year, Club America wins."
Win or lose, Dos Santos is going to keep going. He's enjoying this last real run, this last real push for trophies. And in the process, real Jonathan dos Santos has a message to the world: welcome.