This Is How Goals Are Celebrated in the Ghetto: Ryan Castro and Lucho Díaz, Two Stadium Superstars
Categoria: Musica
United by two passions — soccer and music — they chose to bring stadiums to life, each in his own way: onstage and on the field.
Por Billboard | 10/06/2026
This story is part of Billboard’s Global World Cup Series, a collection of 11 cover stories which pairs top soccer stars across the world competing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup with highly-touted musicians in accompanying countries. “When are we dropping the next hit?” Lucho Díaz asks Ryan Castro with a laugh, as they switch roles to interview each other for Billboard Colombia as the stars of Billboard ‘s Global World Cup Series, in a special edition for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. More than an interview, it felt like a conversation between two friends whose bond was sealed with “EL RITMO QUE NOS UNE,” the anthem that accompanied Colombia’s national team during the 2024 Copa América. From Orlando, Florida — where La Tricolor was holding its training camp ahead of the 2026 World Cup — Ryan and Lucho reunited with hugs, inside jokes and music talk, especially around “La Promesa,” the champeta track that marked Lucho’s debut as a solo artist. This was no ordinary meeting. Sitting face-to-face were two of Colombia’s biggest names of the moment. On one side, Lucho Díaz, star of Colombia’s national team and the country’s all-time top scorer in Champions League history. On the other, Ryan Castro, one of the strongest voices in urban music and the artist with the most weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Colombia Hot 100 . Related Joey Bada$ & Miles Robinson Compare Notes on What Drives Them & Why ‘Athletes Love Artists’ Ahead of World Cup These Are the Artists Who Will Be on the Official Album for the FIFA World Cup 2026 World Cup 2026: ‘Dai Dai,’ ‘Champions,’ ‘El Último Baile,’ ‘Jump’ & More Best Songs to Celebrate While one represents Colombia from the soccer field and the other from the stage, both speak the same language: the language of the Ghetto. Ryan grew up in Pedregal, Medellín, dreaming of becoming a reggaetón artist while surviving through different jobs, including working as a waiter in Curaçao. Lucho, from Barrancas, La Guajira, played barefoot soccer among dust, vallenato music and financial struggles, dreaming of making it to the biggest leagues in the world. Today, both of them bring stadiums to life, each in his own way: one by scoring goals and the other by singing. With the hope of continuing to celebrate goals in the Ghetto — and hopefully also in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final — they sat face-to-face to talk about music, soccer, dreams, and even a possible new musical collaboration. Lucho Díaz: I’ll go first so the pressure’s on you. As an artist, what do you admire most about athletes? Ryan Castro: Wow, I think what I admire most — and what’s the hardest part — is the discipline of training every day. Castro: As an athlete, what do you admire most about musicians? Díaz: Being able to sing, bro. Having the talent to sing, create and write — that’s the hardest thing to me. Lucho Díaz Natalia Aguilera Díaz: Do