2,181 days after the match between Mexico and Germany in the 2018 World Cup, the scorer of the match would go on to sign for Major League Soccer’s (MLS) newest expansion club in San Diego.
The peak of now 30-year-old forward Hirving ‘Chucky’ Lozano’s career came on that day, June 17, 2018, inside Luzhniki Stadium, in Moscow, Russia. His goal shook Mexico and sparked joy throughout the Mexican community, cementing his name in ‘El Tri’ history. It was a match winner over Germany, the defending World Cup champions, who won in 2014.
Six years later, after two Eredivisie titles, Lozano made the move from Europe to MLS. He signed with San Diego FC (SDFC) in the Summer of 2024 for an annual salary of $7 million through the end of 2028.
“It’s an honor to join San Diego FC as the Club’s first Designated Player,” Lozano said, following his signing with the club in 2024. “It’s exciting to be part of history as we build a Club that will compete for championships in MLS. In every country I have played, I always strive to leave a mark.”
He came into San Diego as a winner in both the Italian and Dutch leagues, and an icon in Mexican soccer history. All of this and his high wage meant high expectations and excitement from SDFC fans.
“In many ways it’s disappointing in the sense that they [SDFC] marketed him as a franchise player,” rapper and member of Barra 18 Josué Josué said. “Just for him to be gone so soon, it’s kinda confusing. The team has also proved that we do good without him. It’s just confusing in the sense where I wish the team would work it out since he’s all over the T-shirts and you still see him on the ads.”
The situation that Josué referenced is an incident that occurred between Lozano and head coach Mikey Varas towards the end of last season.
On Oct. 4, 2025, SDFC played away at Houston Dynamo. Varas substituted Lozano out of the game, which started a conflict in the dressing room during halftime.
“He was extremely unhappy about it, and that’s when the verbal altercation took place,” per Tom Bogert of The Athletic. “One source said Lozano needs to prove how committed he is to the locker room in order to be available to play in the playoffs.”
SDFC won 4-2 in Houston, and Lozano ended up absent from the following two matches. The second of the two was against Portland Timbers at home on Oct. 26, 2025. This was also the first playoffs matchday in club history and SDFC was victorious in Game 1 of Round 1 by a score of 2-1.
His return came in the following match at Portland as a substitution. Lozano only needed six minutes to find the net, contributing the second of two SDFC goals. A last minute, stoppage time goal by the Timbers led to a scoreless extra time, forcing a penalty shootout. While Lozano converted his penalty, the Azul y Chrome lost 3-2 in the shootout forcing a Game 3.
Two days after elimination from the playoffs, he was asked at Sharp HealthCare Performance Center if he would consider offers to leave San Diego.
A month later came a shock. On Jan. 9, general manager Tyler Heaps announced that Lozano would not be part of the club’s sporting plans.
“It’s better to cut ties as soon as possible,” Tony Sanchez of San Diego.Futbol said outside of Snapdragon Stadium prior to SDFC’s first game of 2026. “Whether to buy out his contract and eliminate any questions from the fanbase; ‘Well, you have Chucky there, you can deploy him any time you want’ if there’s a lack of offense. That is going to be a distraction as much the club may say it is not.”
Inside, fans awaited to see their club for the first time in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. Lozano was not registered for the cup.
“We were season ticket holders last year,” Jenae McAllister said. “From the beginning, I didn’t feel like his style of play did well with everyone else’s style of play. I’ve been a [Anders] Dreyer fan since game one. I don’t think Chucky is a bad guy, I’m just not a fan of him on the field, so I’m not sad about it.”
There is another view on the matter, one that is from a statistical and financial angle.
“There was no output for that amount of money to be our designated player, period,” Nicole Stewart said. “He was not worth the money for his output, Dreyer was. Free up the money, let’s get better players.”
Josué Josué added his perspective, analyzing Lozano’s behavior and the club’s approach with giving academy and younger players opportunities.
“Its a slippery slope if he stays, who knows if they’re still be some kind of internal things happening,” Josué Josué said. “Maybe he is the problem and wants to throw a fit, I’d want for that to be prevented. I have trust in the club, Mikey has the experience of dealing with young talent. If he [Lozano] has to go, I’ll still have faith in the club.”
The new season began with a victory for the Azul y Chrome, advancing them to the round of 16 in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. They eliminated Pumas UNAM, 4-2, without Lozano.
Four players, 23 and younger, scored all four goals, reflecting what Josué Josué commented about Varas’s history with young players.
“It’s an opportunity for SDFC to move forward with what they are saying,” Sanchez said. “Their mentality is academy based, it’s based on the system and the style of play. Looking at Chucky Lozano and his production last year, they [the club] believe they can get that same production for cheaper elsewhere.”
Lozano’s production was nine assists and 11 goals in 2025. Dreyer, who earned $5 million less than Lozano, tallied 23 goals and 19 assists.
While the player does not want to depart America’s Finest City, it is best for the club to part ways from Lozano.
