Uriel Antuna’s story is one of incredible talent, resilience, and triumph over adversity. Nicknamed “Sorcerer” for his extraordinary skills with the ball from a young age, Uriel was born to parents who faced significant financial hardships. Growing up in Lerdo, a city plagued by violence, he found solace and purpose in football, honing his abilities on dirt fields amidst challenging circumstances. Despite these tough beginnings, Uriel’s passion for the game kept him going, even when he almost gave up.
Mexico’s Sorcerer: Uriel Antuna’s Inspiring Journey from Poverty
Today, Uriel Antuna is more than just a footballer; he is an inspiration. His journey from a life of poverty to becoming a standout player for the Mexican national team embodies the dream of many young athletes. Uriel’s rise is a testament to his hard work, humility, and the magic he brings to the field—qualities that make him a favourite among fans and a beacon of hope for aspiring footballers.
Preamble:
Our Uriel Antuna biography covers key aspects of his life, including his childhood story, early life, and family background. We introduce you to his parents, Carlos Antuna (father) and Berta Alicia Romero (mother), and his brothers, Kevin Antuna and Isaac Daniel Antuna. You’ll also learn about his personal life, including his wife, Penelope Garcia, and their children—son Bruno Antuna and their daughter.
This article will delve into Uriel Antuna’s family origins, ethnicity, education, religion, and hometown. We’ll also discuss the speedy winger’s net worth, personal life, and lifestyle. Our version of Uriel Antuna’s biography begins with notable events from his childhood and early life, offering insights into the challenges he faced on his path to fame. Despite struggling early in his career and nearly quitting football, Antuna’s perseverance led him to become a FIFA World Cup hero for Mexico.
We hope to capture your interest as you explore Uriel Antuna’s journey. To set the stage, we’ll start with a photo gallery showcasing his transformation from a young boy to a renowned footballer. Uriel Antuna has indeed come a long way on his remarkable life journey, and we’re excited to share his story with you.
Uriel Antuna Biography – From his boyhood years to the moment he became famous.
If you watch the winger play, you can quickly spot him by his speed and determination. Antuna is known for being a speedster who never stops fighting for the ball and always drives the game forward.
Did you know that Manchester City once signed him, and he provided numerous goal assists to Zlatan Ibrahimovic?
During our research on Mexican wingers, we discovered a knowledge gap. The truth is, not many soccer fans have read a detailed account of Uriel Antuna’s life story, which we’ve put together just for you. So, without further ado, let’s dive in!
Uriel Antuna Childhood Story:
For Biography starters, he bears the nickname – El Brujo and the ‘Sorcerer’. His Full names are Carlos Uriel Antuna Romero.
Uriel Antuna was born on the 21st day of August 1997 to his Mother, Berta Alicia Romero and Father, Carlos Antuna, in Gómez Palacio, Durango, Mexico.
Antuna arrived in the world as one among three children born to the blissful marital union between Berta and Carlos (his Mum and Dad).
Now, let’s show you Uriel Antuna’s Parents. Berta and Carlos are persons who never gave their son riches, but that spirit of support and reverence.
Meet Uriel Antuna’s Parents – an ecstatic Mum, Berta Alicia Romero and a good-looking Dad, Carlos Antuna.
Growing Up:
Uriel Antuna spent his childhood years alongside his younger brothers. Kelvin is the immediate younger, while Isaac Daniel Antuna is the youngest in the family.
By our calculations, Kelvin is four years younger than his older brother, Uriel. We’ll tell you more about Antuna’s siblings (who are all footballers) as you progress with reading this Bio.
Barrio Las Flores is where Uriel and his brothers grew up. As many would say, this place is a very dangerous neighbourhood, especially when it comes to insecurity and youth gang drug trafficking.
Berta and Carlos ensured their children were not part of it, making them stay grounded at all times.
Uriel Antuna Early Years:
As a child, the youngster and his brother, Kelvin, agreed to play football for a living. Soon, the youngest, Isaac Daniel, followed. The boys had natural talents and were confident in using football to get their parents out of poverty.
In fact, Uriel and Kevin’s talents were difficult for football scouts to ignore – and we’ll tell you more about that in this Bio.
Early on, the Antuna brothers used to play soccer on dirt courts.
For Uriel, there was a much bigger dream. A dream to make his country (Mexico) proud. Uriel dreamt that one day, he would make his country proud at the FIFA World Cup.
Behold the young boy from Gómez Palacio, who has now achieved his big dream.
Just like Mason Mount, Uriel Antuna was once a boy with a big dream.
As a child, Uriel got the nickname of ‘King of the neighbourhood’ because he was the biggest talent (who scored lots of goals) on the dirt courts.
This dirt field, including that of Charly Soccer training school (which he attended), is about 30 by 50 meters. Pictured below, this field was where young Uriel and his little brother honed their skills and laid their career foundations.
This field made the Mexican Winger.
Young Uriel was known in his neighbourhood as a ‘Sorcerer’ because he played soccer like a magician.
Because of that, a soccer agent who came to visit his family found it hard to reject him even while he came for Kevin, his brother.
Antuna was more than the average football lover from his earliest days. In fact, many who knew the Winger (during his childhood) could see the best promise of his generation. Now, let’s discuss his household.
Uriel Antuna Family Background:
The Mexican winger, who grew up in Gómez Palacio, Durango, comes from a household with very humble origins.
Uriel Antuna’s parents maintained a low-income family. They built a home around their love for football.
From the onset, Carlos Antuna and Berta Alicia Romero always encouraged their sons to pursue nothing else but their football dreams.
Because Uriel Antuna’s parents were poor, their celebrity son endured some very difficult moments in his early life.
Despite that, the Speedy Winger continued to remain steadfast and humble in his desire to achieve football stardom.
Today, the signs are there that the Baller is successful and has gotten his parents out of poverty.
Uriel Antuna Family Origin:
For starters, the first thing to know about Winger is the fact that he is a bonafide Mexican. Bertha and Carlos (his parents) are natives of the American country.
Now, about the part of Mexico Uriel Antuna’s Family comes from, our findings point to the town of Lerdo.
Commonly known as Ciudad Lerdo, this is a small municipality with a population of 141,043, located in the northeastern part of the Mexican state of Durango.
Here is a map gallery that’ll help you understand the location of Uriel Antuna’s origins.
The Speedy Winger hails from the northeastern portion of the Mexican state of Durango.
Uriel Antuna Ethnicity:
Our finding shows that the Athlete joins over 62% of his country’s people who identify with the Mexican Mestizo ethnic group. Uriel Antuna’s roots is of blended Mexican descent.
His ancestry is traced to the intermarriage between the indigenous people of Mexico and Europeans. In some cases, intermarriage with Africans and Asians (to a lesser degree).
Uriel Antuna Education:
From the beginning, Bertha and Carlos strived to see their sons pass through elementary and basic schooling.
Even at that, seeing them become footballers was more prioritized for the couple who ran a low-income home.
Uriel and Kevin played soccer informally in their neighbourhood before getting discovered by one man – whom we will tell you about.
Football Story:
In 2009, Uriel and his little brother Kevin enrolled at the Charly Soccer training school managed by Carlos Alberto Escandón.
The owner of the soccer school once revealed that his idea at first was to recruit Uriel’s younger brother, Kevin, whom he first saw in a field kicking a ball.
Initially, Uriel was not Carlos Alberto Escandón’s target. Before taking his little brother (Kelvin), he went on to consult his parents.
In the conversation to get approval to enrol Kevin to the training centre, the talent of Uriel got mentioned at some point. Carlos Alberto Escandón found there was another superstar in the family – who was the best in their neighbourhood.
Uriel Antuna’s mother told the scout that everyone in their neighbourhood loved her first son. That in fact, people call him ‘Soccerrer’ because he played like a magician and was the top scorer in the neighbourhood.
Initially, without knowing these facts, Carlos Alberto Escandón reluctantly said no. He said that he was in the house of Uriel Antuna’s family to get Kevin.
But despite Uriel being four more years older than the age he wanted, he changed his mind and picked him (together with Kelvin) after hearing facts about his talent.
But as time passed, Carlos Alberto Escandón saw that it was more complicated not to take Uriel since he was a “famous” scorer. So Kevin and his big brother end up joining the soccer school maintained by a hardworking man.
About Charly Soccer owner:
Pictured below, Carlos Alberto Escandón is a public accountant as well as a coach for children.
He specialized in giving opportunities to kids from poor parents who grow up in regions with high rates of poverty and insecurity. Here are the two boys (Uriel and Kevin) with their trainer, Carlos Alberto Escandon.
Since 2008, Carlos Alberto has divided his days between his working as a public accountant and a soccer coach.
The Charly Soccer Training Centre, where the boys played football, is a school installed in the courtyard of Carlos Alberto Escandón’s house.
The soccer school was formed on the 26th of May 2008. It got founded after Carlos Escandón (the owner) made a promise to his son.
The promise came after Doctors did an operation on his son’s tonsil.
Escandón, an accountant by profession, was determined to help underprivileged children to stay away from delinquency through soccer.
Here is a picture of Charley Soccer School.
Since May of 2008, Charly Soccer (founded by Carlos Escandón) has helped hundreds of kids to actualize their football dreams.
Uriel Antuna Biography – Road to Fame Story:
After two years of pastoral training, the Charly Soccer product was invited to participate in the 2011 Santos Cup.
In that competition, Uriel Antuna stood out as the best player. His outstanding display drew the attention of various agents, who wanted him at their bigger and more competitive academies.
In 2012, Uriel Antuna’s parents approved their son’s enrolment with Santos Laguna youth academy. Being at a bigger academy opened a new chapter of his life. While there, Uriel found more competition, and he experienced very hard training.
There were lots of boys who played better than him. Similar to Tyrell Malacia and Cody Gakpo, Uriel found difficulties adjusting to his new surroundings.
At some point, the native of Lerdo once considered giving up on his football dreams. With support from his parents, trainers and advisers, he found the courage to keep on fighting.
Achieving Local Success:
Applying more hard work and effort, opportunities came, and Uriel managed to make the most of them.
Eduardo Fentanes, the director of the Santos Basic Forces, once told ESPN that the goal numbers Uriel Antuna made in partnership with two of his teammates were extraordinary. In fact, it was very much compared to the trio of Messi, Suarez and Neymar.
In their local environment, these three Mexican kids replicated the wonders of MSN – Messi, Suarez and Neymar.
From the picture above, it was clear that Uriel had adjusted to his new surroundings. He became part of the U-17 boys who became champion of the Dallas Cup in 2015.
Due to Uriel Antuna’s outstanding participation with Mexico U20, he (again) got named among the CONCACAF U-20 Championship Best XI.
Young Uriel displays the honours won in his youth. No wonder, Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola wanted him.
In 2017, Santos Laguna’s first-team manager, José Manuel de la Torre, promoted Antuna to the senior team.
On 5 March that year, when Antuna made his professional debut in the Liga MX, it became clear that the boy would go places. In fact, there was a big European club that wanted his services.
Signed by Manchester City:
To this day, not many Football fans know that Uriel Antuna was one of Pep Guardiola’s first signings, just after he joined Man City.
On the 12th day of July 2017, the English club, via City Football Group, announced the signing of Uriel Antuna on a four-year contract.
A month later, Pep Guardiola approved that the youngster should go on loan to Groningen, a professional football club in the Netherlands.
Uriel Antuna’s departure to the Old Continent was not easy for him and his parents. It was difficult for the boy himself because he had never been away from his family.
Because his little brothers (Kevin and Isaac Daniel) still played soccer in Mexico, Uriel Antuna’s parents did not follow him to Europe. Bertha and Carlos decided to stay in Mexico to look after his younger brothers.
Rise to Fame Story:
The quest to remain close to his family saw the Winger leaving the old continent for a football deal in the United States. On the 29th of January 2019, Uriel joined MLS side LA Galaxy – as revealed in the club statement.
At that time, the American professional soccer club had Zlatan Ibrahimovic as their biggest superstar.
Uriel Antuna achieved a meteoric rise with LA Galaxy. The Winger and the Swedish Legend (Zlatan) formed a formidable partnership that led to plenty of goals and assists.
Uriel provided the most goal assists for the club, a feat that helped Ibrahimovic to score as many as 30 goals for LA Galaxy in a single season.
Moving Closer to Family:
Following his success with LA Galaxy, Antuna agreed to move closer to his family. On the 28th day of Number 2019, he joined Liga MX side Guadalajara.
It is pertinent to note that Europen clubs – like Benfica – were in high demand of him (at that time). For Uriel, remaining on the American continent was key.
While playing for the Mexican professional football club (C.D. Guadalajara), he achieved fame. Uriel was named in the Liga MX Best XI for 2020.
From a U-23 national team perspective, Antuna also got the honour of having his name in the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Championship Best XI.
Uriel Antuna exploded with the Mexican national team after helping his team win the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Raul Jimenez and Edson Álvarez, etc., were among those who won it.
In the finals, Mexico defeated Gregg Berhalter’s USA team, which contained Big names like Christian Pulisic, Jose Altidore and Paul Arriola.
Uriel is a proud winner of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup:
At the time of writing Uriel Antuna’s Biography, he is set to make a big statement in Qatar.
The native of Lerdo, alongside Hirving Lozano, trust that their sheer acceleration and speed could help their country dominate the FIFA World Cup Group C countries – Argentina, Saudi Arabia and Poland.
The rest, as we say in this Biography, is forever history.
Who is Uriel Antuna’s Wife?
To start with, her name is Penélope Garcia. Like her Footballer Husband, the beautiful model also has Mexican family origins.
Now, let’s introduce you to Uriel Antuna’s Wife – the woman who makes the footballer complete.
Introducing Penélope Garcia – She is Uriel Antuna’s Wife.
Penelope Garcia was born on the 6th day of October 1998. By implication, it means her husband (who was born in 1997) is one year and two months older than her.
Uriel Antuna’s Wife has a huge following on Instagram. When creating this Bio, Penelope (a model) had around 52.5k followers on the popular social media platform.
Uriel Antuna Children:
The marriage between the Mexican professional footballer and his wife have produced fruits. As of 2022, Uriel Antuna and Penélope Garcia have two children – a boy and a girl.
Bruno Antuna is the name of Uriel and Penélope’s first child – a son. Prince Bruno was born on the 3rd of January 2020 in Los Angeles, California – making him a US citizen.
From left to right, we have Bruno, Uriel, Penélope and their daughter.
Uriel Antuna always has great reasons to celebrate his family, especially when Penélope Garcia gives birth.
We have a photo of one such moment, a time Penelope Garcia had their baby at the end of the year 2021. Here is the moment the former LA Galaxy star welcomed his daughter to the world.
What a proud Father! Uriel Antuna had just witnessed the birth of his child.
Personal Life:
Who is Uriel Antuna?
Despite the money he makes in football, El Brujo continues to be a humble and simple person. Uriel is a Baller who remains firm in his desire to achieve important things.
To many who know him, he is a typical example of a humble boy who comes from below, a man (like Rodrigo Bentancur and Lisandro Martinez) who never forgets their family roots.
Antuna learned from a very young age that if he wants something, he has to work for it.
Despite the growth and fame he has gotten in recent times, he does not forget to visit Charly Soccer School and play with the kids who now see him as their hero.
Uriel Antuna Lifestyle:
Making money through soccer is now is a necessary evil, and the Mexican is glad his family has been alleviated from poverty.
These days, Uriel Antuna loves having a walk with nature. Together with Penélope, they love the experience of having nature’s peace flowing in them.
The Lifestyle of Uriel Antuna.
Mazatlán (a Mexican resort town along the Pacific shoreline) remains Uriel and Penelope’s favourite holiday destination.
At the time the above photo was taken (as seen above), Uriel Antuna’s wife was already pregnant with their second daughter. Now, in the next section, we’ll tell you what El Brujo spends his money on.
Uriel Antuna Cars:
For the record, El Brujo is someone who fancies displaying his luxurious automobiles. So, you should COUNT HIM IN when you ask about Mexican football players who own and drive exotic cars.
Uriel Antuna loves Cars.
Like her husband, Penélope Garcia is also a fan of luxurious automobiles. Here, Uriel Antuna’s Wife is pictured with an iconic 4×4 sport utility car, which appears to be one of her favourites.
A perfect car for Penélope Garcia.
Every young mother like Penélope Garcia deserves the perfect car that’ll suit her lifestyle perfectly.
When it comes to her choice of car, passenger space is paramount, and the idea of shopping makes this spacious car a better fit for Penélope Garcia.
Penélope Garcia dresses to match with her perfect, well-spacious car.
Uriel Antuna Family Life:
El Brujo is grateful to his parents for raising him and helping him survive the complexities of his early years.
Thanks to their son’s successful career, Berta Alicia Romero and Carlos now reap the dividends of their hard work. Now, let’s tell you more about El Brujo’s family members.
Uriel Antuna Mother:
From the moment Berta Alicia Romero first watched her son’s first Eredivisie match, it became clear that she was his number one fan.
In case you missed it, here is the voice of Uriel Antuna’s number one fan screening at him from the Noordlease Stadion stands.
The close bond between Berta and Uriel confirms the saying that mothers are always attached to their first sons. These days, Berta lives a life of fulfilment, and she owes that to the success of her children, especially her first son.
Berta Alicia Romero is a great Mum who deserves to enjoy the fruits of her labour.
Uriel Antuna Father:
Carlos works with Elite Sports/Manfredi Caleca to ensure his son’s career interests are well represented. Uriel Antuna’s Dad is a good parent who never wavered in his support for his sons – Uriel, Kevin and Isaac.
The native of Gómez Palacio (pictured below) is glad to have raised a successful family despite little resources.
Carlos and his son pose for a photograph at a stadium.
Uriel Antuna’s Brother:
Like his older sibling, Kevin also plies his trade as a professional footballer. Kevin Antuna, the brother of Uriel, is a Defender who (as I write this Bio) plays for Alebrijes de Oaxaca. This is a Mexican football team based in the city of Oaxaca.
Uriel Antuna Brother’s full names are Kevin Alberto Antuna Romero, and he was born on the 21st of April 2001.
Just like his older brother, Kevin Antuna also played for Santos Laguna (from Charlie soccer). As of January 2022, the brother of Uriel was preparing to debut in the first division for this Clausura 2022 tournament.
Kevin wants to make his own story – different from Uriel Antuna, his older brother.
Uriel Antuna’s brother is confident in following his own path without necessarily living in his older brother’s shadows.
Kevin is someone who refuses any comparison with his brother and seeks to write his own story. The 21-year-old Defender (who is the captain of his young team) intends to write his own story and reach the top circuit in Mexican football.
Isaac Daniel Antuna:
Carlos and Berta had him as their youngest child. Our research shows he is Uriel and Kevin Antuna’s youngest brother. Isaac Daniel, who is four years younger than Kelvin (his immediate older brother), is also a professional footballer in the making.
Uriel and Kevin Antuna seek to leave a good example of work and perseverance to the youngest of their family. As of 2022, the 17-year-old Athlete is just about to become a professional. Speaking about Isaac Daniel, Kevin Antuna, his older brother, once said;
We have to leave him a good path, making him learn from me and Uriel, who do not stop fighting. So that he also follows in our footsteps.
Uriel Antuna Cousin:
As I write this Bio, no documentation exists on their names, but we can confirm that they were always attached to the sport.
As earlier recalled in this Bio, Uriel Antuna and his cousins used to play football in their early days. In the words of the Mexican winger;
“I always had the ball at my feet. As a child, I used to play with my cousins and friends with punches, with spins, but what I always liked was playing with them on the street.”
Untold Facts:
In the final phase of Uriel Antuna’s Biography, we’ll unveil more info about him. So, without further ado, let’s begin.
Punished for partying:
During the COVID-19 period, ElsoldeMexico reported that a leaked video showed Uriel and his teammate, Alexis Vega, partying.
At that time, Uriel and his son (Bruno Autuna) had just recovered from COVID-19, and he was (by his club rules) supported to be in isolation.
In the heat of the COVID pandemic, soccer clubs in Mexico established security protocols that some of its players have violated. Uriel was one of those who went against his club’s rules, and as a result, he got punished.
To clear his name, Uriel Autuna first denied the accusations about going to a party. Note: it was a party for his 23rd birthday.
Next, the Winger went as far as posting this photo to prove that he was at home with his wife and son that night.
Was the Mexican Winger telling the truth? Antuna posted this photo to prove he was at home with his family on that night.
Uriel Antuna FIFA Profile:
Fans of football managers or those in career mode are always fond of having speedsters who cost little money to acquire.
Uriel Antuna and similar to Nestory Irankunda, and Nico Williams (before the 2022 FIFA World Cup) are typical examples.
His acceleration, agility and sprint speed are the greatest assets he brings to the modern game. Here is photo proof.
El Brujo rules the football world when it comes to Acceleration and Agility.
With a small transfer budget, you can buy Antuna on your FIFA career mode, and he’ll do wonders for you. According to InfoBae, Uriel Antuna (as of 2020) was the fastest footballer in the world, only below Kylian Mbappe.
About the Soccer academy that raised him:
Uriel Antuna and his brother, Kevin, were one of the kids who benefitted from the initiative by Carlos Alberto Escandón.
The first generation of players in the academy was made up of 15 children. Thanks to the success of Uriel and his brother brought to the school, hundreds of kids are now registered at the academy.
Today, Charly Soccer is one of the best in its neighbourhood, a football school that has witnessed the graduation of more than a thousand infants. Thanks to a good relationship, the academy is now a Springboard for her football kids to play for Santos Laguna, the club that once sold Uriel Antuna to Manchester City.
Uriel Antuna Religion:
The Mexican professional footballer is a Catholic who believes in Jesus Christ and honours the Virgin of Guadalupe. R
Roman Catholicism (which Uriel identifies with) is the dominant faith of the Mexican people – over 80% of the population. Uriel Antuna’s parents raised him, Kelvin and Isaac Daniel, in adherence to Catholic Christian doctrines.
EndNote:
The Mexican bears the full name Carlos Uriel Antuna Romero. His nicknames are El Brujo and Sorcerer. Uriel Antuna was born on the 21st day of August 1997 to his Mother, Berta Alicia Romero and Father, Carlos Antuna, in Gómez Palacio, Durango, Mexico.
Antuna spent his childhood years alongside his two siblings. Uriel’s immediate younger brother is Kevin Antuna. While the youngest child born to Berta and Carlos is Isaac Daniel Antuna. Lerdo, popularly known as Ciudad Lerdo, is where Uriel’s hometown, where he and his siblings spent their early years.
Before their son made it, Uriel Antuna’s parents (Carlos and Berta Alicia) operated a below-middle-class household. The youngster saw football as the way out to uplift his Dad and Mum from poverty.
As a kid, Uriel (who played lots of soccer with his cousin) had a dream to become a professional. The youngster (nicknamed a Sorcerer) was the highest goalscorer in his neighbourhood.
The signs of good things to come began when the founder of Charly Soccer Academy (Carlos Escandón) discovered Kevin Antuna (Uriel’s brother). Although Kevin was initially the target, Escandón was convinced to accept Uriel into his academy.
After Charly Soccer, Uriel Antuna further passed through Santos Laguna before becoming a professional. Behind the success of the Winger came Penelope Garcia. She is Uriel Antuna’s wife. Together, both lovers are parents to two children – their son (Bruno Antuna) and a daughter.
As I conclude this Bio, the Mexican Speedster who comes from a household of very humble origins is set to make a big statement at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Uriel Antuna’s parents no longer maintain a low-income family, and he has set a good example for his brothers to follow.
Appreciation Note:
Thank you for taking the time to read our version of Uriel Antuna’s Biography. We care about accuracy and fairness in our quest to deliver you North and South American Soccer Stories. Please reach out to us via comments if you find anything that doesn’t look right in the memoir of the Mexican Speedster.
On another note, we’d like to know what you think about Uriel and the interesting story we’ve written about him. Aside from the Life History of the former LA Galaxy Winger, we’ve got other great stories of Mexican footballers lined up for you. The Untold Biography Facts of Hector Herrera and Orbelín Pineda will surely excite you.
