FC Dallas winger Paul Arriola's work to become more open about his mental health and his work to encourage those whose lives have been touched by cancer is getting into the national spotlight.
Arriola is featured in an episode of "My New Favorite Futbolista", a bilingual podcast series co-hosted by legendary Colombian soccer player Juan Pablo Angel. FCD academy product Chris Richards also is featured in the eight-part series, sharing about his advocacy against racism.
Arriola lost his grandfather to pancreatic cancer in 2019, shortly after Arriola's father died suddenly of a heart attack. His mother-in-law was diagnosed with lung cancer the same year, and shortly after Arriola had to recover from a serious ACL injury.
The FCD attacker said he largely kept his feelings inside, preferring to project the image of a happy-go-lucky guy rather than share his grief. This season, however, Arriola began to become something of an advocate, initially revealing his "F**K Cancer" undershirt after a goal in a May victory over the LA Galaxy.
READ MORE: The Striker's story after that match
"My mother-in-law had been going through a really rough time and it had appeared the cancer was progressing," Arriola said in the podcast, produced by NBC's LX News imprint. "We were going to go play in LA against the Galaxy. I didn’t know if my mother-in-law would be able to go to the game but I knew she’d be watching the game for sure, and I just thought if this is the last time she ever sees me play, I want to send a message.
"My message has been F cancer."
Arriola said he had his agent check in with the league to see if fines or suspensions were possible as part of the message, but rather than penalties, he's found a community of others whose lives have been touched by illness.
"I had so many messages on social media just about, 'I’ve lost a family member to cancer, I’ve overcame cancer, I’m battling cancer; all these different things," he said. "It was definitely a message just to everyone that was watching and the people it can positively affect. I’m just so grateful that was it and I’ve been wearing it every game since."
To some it’s just a F**K Cancer shirt, to others, like myself, it means so much more. I hope I can continue to spread love and encouragement to those who are fighting, beat, or have been affected by cancer. One day at a time. Just know, I am with you❤️ @letsfcancer @FCDallas pic.twitter.com/Yt8q75ME0A
— Paul Arriola (@PaulArriola) October 19, 2022
That hasn't always been the mentality the 27-year-old has had, he admitted in the podcast.
"Oftentimes I’ll hold back my emotion. I try to stay as level-headed as possible throughout what I’m feeling," Arriola said. "But, I think as of late I’ve gained this strength to share my story and be okay with people understanding what I've gone through because I know it helps other people just as much as it helps me."
Arriola hopes his name is on the final World Cup roster announced Wednesday by United States manager Gregg Berhalter, so he not only can represent his country but also carry on the memory of his late father and grandfather on the biggest stage in the sport.
"It’ll mean a lot for me to be able to be at the World Cup, just playing there in their memory," he said.