Last Updated on September 26, 2026 by Miguel Manjate
Santiago Moreno comes from a close Colombian family whose sacrifices were central to his journey from a difficult childhood in eastern Cali to professional football in Colombia, the United States and Brazil. Born on April 21, 2000, the FC Dallas winger grew up in modest circumstances and entered América de Cali’s academy after years of playing football in his neighborhood.
Moreno has spoken especially warmly about his mother, Marta Cecilia Moreno, who accompanied him through the most difficult stages of his childhood football career. He is the youngest of three children and has two older sisters who also helped him get to training when his mother could not. Santiago later became a father himself while still a teenager and has a daughter named Ashly. However, he has kept the identity of Ashly’s mother and his current romantic life away from reliable public reporting.
Who Is Santiago Moreno’s Girlfriend?
As of now, Santiago Moreno has not publicly confirmed a current girlfriend or wife through FC Dallas, Portland Timbers, Fluminense or another sufficiently reliable source.
Moreno has discussed being a father and has regularly spoken about the importance of his daughter, mother and wider family, but established football reporting does not clearly identify a current romantic partner.
There is also no reliable public confirmation that Santiago is married. Photographs, comments or social-media interactions involving private individuals should not be treated as proof of a relationship without confirmation from Moreno himself.
For that reason, the identity of Ashly’s mother and Santiago Moreno’s present relationship status should be considered private.
Does Santiago Moreno Have Children?
Yes. Santiago Moreno has at least one publicly confirmed daughter named Ashly.
Portland Timbers publicly identified Ashly in a detailed 2022 profile about Moreno’s life away from Colombia. At the time, she was four years old and remained in South America while Santiago was establishing himself in Major League Soccer.
In January 2026, Brazilian outlet ge again confirmed that Moreno was a father, describing his daughter as eight years old. These reports indicate that Santiago became a father when he was still approximately 17 years old.
Fatherhood arrived early in his life, at approximately the same period in which he was attempting to break through from América de Cali’s youth system into professional football.
Santiago Moreno’s Daughter Ashly
Ashly is Santiago Moreno’s publicly identified daughter.
The Portland Timbers described her as one of the people Santiago missed most after moving from Colombia to Oregon in 2021.
Moreno had spent almost his entire life surrounded by his family before accepting the transfer to Major League Soccer. Suddenly, he was thousands of kilometres from his mother, sisters and young daughter.
He stayed connected with his relatives through daily WhatsApp conversations and looked forward to family visits to Portland.
For Moreno, the separation from Ashly was one of the most difficult aspects of beginning his career abroad.
Santiago Moreno Became a Father as a Teenager
Santiago Moreno became a father unusually early in his football career.
A 2021 profile in the Colombian newspaper El País reported that Moreno became a father at approximately 17 years old. At the time, his daughter was around three.
The responsibility arrived before Santiago had fully established himself as a professional footballer.
Rather than preventing his development, fatherhood appears to have added another reason for Moreno to take his career seriously. During his early years with América de Cali, his daily routine revolved around training, matches and spending time with his family.
By the time he moved abroad, providing for his daughter and maintaining close contact with her had become important parts of his life away from football.
Who Are Santiago Moreno’s Parents?
Santiago Moreno’s mother is Marta Cecilia Moreno. She is by far the most publicly documented of his parents and played an extraordinary role in helping him reach professional football.
His father has not been reliably identified by name in the principal interviews and profiles covering Santiago’s childhood. Detailed reporting about Moreno’s upbringing focuses overwhelmingly on his mother, his sisters and the difficult circumstances in which they lived.
Because there is no sufficiently reliable source identifying his father, it would be inaccurate to attach a name or biography to him based on surname searches or unverified online information.
Santiago Moreno’s Mother: Marta Cecilia Moreno
Santiago Moreno’s mother is Marta Cecilia Moreno.
Her story is one of the most important parts of her son’s rise to professional football.
Santiago grew up with his mother in the Decepaz area of eastern Cali. Marta recalled that her son began playing football at around five years old after someone in their neighborhood noticed his ability and suggested that he train with a local coach.
When Santiago was approximately 11, Marta learned that América de Cali was holding youth trials. She took him to the opportunity, where coach Jersson González quickly recognized his talent.
That moment began Santiago’s long relationship with the club he had grown up supporting.
Marta Cecilia Made Major Sacrifices for Santiago’s Football Career
Getting into América de Cali’s academy did not remove the financial obstacles facing the Moreno family.
The journey to training was difficult and expensive. Marta remembered walking long distances with Santiago because the family did not always have enough money for public transportation.
She worked cleaning houses by the day to help support the family.
When she could not accompany Santiago to training, one of his older sisters sometimes took him instead.
Later, health problems related to asthma made it difficult for Marta to continue working in the same way.
Rather than stop supporting Santiago’s football career, she accompanied him to training and began selling snacks and drinks around the football fields to earn money.
Other academy parents and coaches occasionally helped the family with transportation costs as well.
Santiago Moreno’s First Major Goal Was for His Mother and Family
Moreno’s sacrifices began paying off once he reached América de Cali’s senior team.
When discussing one of his earliest memorable professional goals, Santiago said his immediate thoughts were about his family and his mother.
That response reflected the years Marta had spent walking with him, finding transportation, attending training and making sure financial problems did not permanently end his football dream.
Moreno later became an important member of América’s first team and helped the club win the 2020 Colombian championship.
For Marta, seeing her son score in the championship series was an emotional reward after years of uncertainty.
Santiago Moreno’s Mother Followed His Career Abroad
Moreno’s transfer to the Portland Timbers in 2021 separated him from his family for one of the first extended periods of his life.
Santiago admitted that adapting was difficult because he had always been close to his mother.
He maintained frequent contact with his family and looked forward to their visits to Oregon.
Marta travelled to see him during his years in the United States, helping Moreno remain connected to home despite his increasingly international career.
Years later, she again became particularly important when Santiago moved from Portland to Fluminense in Brazil.
Marta Moved to Brazil to Support Santiago
Moreno joined Fluminense in August 2025 after spending four years with the Portland Timbers.
The transition to Brazilian football proved more difficult than he initially expected.
In January 2026, ge reported that Santiago’s mother had travelled from the United States to Brazil to live with him and provide support while he attempted to adapt to his new environment.
The move demonstrated the continued closeness between mother and son more than a decade after Marta first accompanied him to América de Cali training sessions.
Even after Santiago had become an established international professional, his mother remained part of the support system helping him navigate difficult stages of his career.
Santiago Moreno’s Father
Santiago Moreno’s father has not been reliably identified by name in major public football reporting.
Detailed profiles of Santiago’s childhood consistently focus on Marta Cecilia, his sisters and the financial struggles the family faced while he developed at América de Cali.
There is currently insufficient verified information to provide an accurate profile of his father, including his occupation, background or involvement in Santiago’s football career.
As of now, those details should remain unclaimed rather than being filled with speculation.
Who Are Santiago Moreno’s Siblings?
Santiago Moreno has two older sisters.
Both Colombian and Brazilian reporting confirm that Santiago is the youngest child in his family.
His sisters were directly involved in helping his football development during childhood. Marta Cecilia explained that when she was unable to take Santiago to América de Cali training, one of his sisters would accompany him.
This meant that supporting Santiago’s career became a family effort rather than something his mother managed completely alone.
Despite their important role, reliable public football sources do not appear to have disclosed the names of Santiago’s two sisters.
Santiago Moreno’s Older Sisters
Moreno’s two sisters were already older when he began pursuing organized football seriously.
The age difference meant they could help their mother with some of the practical demands of getting Santiago to training sessions across Cali.
That support became especially valuable because the family did not own the resources that many elite youth players take for granted.
Transporting Santiago to América’s facilities required considerable time and money, and the sisters occasionally stepped in when Marta had to work.
Years later, ge confirmed that Moreno remains the youngest of the three siblings.
Santiago Moreno Grew Up in Difficult Circumstances in Cali
Moreno’s childhood was spent in eastern Cali, including the Decepaz and Potrero Grande areas.
His family faced significant financial difficulties.
Travel to football training could become a major challenge because transportation expenses mattered greatly to the household.
There were occasions when Santiago and his mother walked considerable distances rather than pay for transport.
Despite those circumstances, football remained central to Santiago’s life from a very young age.
Marta recognized how seriously her son took the sport and continued making sacrifices to ensure that financial difficulties did not stop him from attending training.
How Santiago Moreno Joined América de Cali
Moreno began playing football around age five.
At approximately 11, he attended an América de Cali youth trial accompanied by his mother.
His trial became an important family story.
Coach Jersson González watched Santiago for only a few minutes before removing him from the field. The young player assumed this meant he had failed and began crying.
Instead, González explained that he had already seen enough and that Moreno had been accepted.
That decision placed Santiago inside the youth system of the club he had supported as a child.
Moreno’s Family Helped Him Stay at América de Cali
Being talented enough to enter the academy was only one part of the challenge.
The family then had to find a way for Santiago to consistently attend training.
Marta’s work, his sisters’ assistance and occasional support from other football families made it possible.
Santiago gradually progressed through América’s youth categories and eventually reached the senior team.
The sacrifices transformed what had originally been a childhood dream into a professional career capable of changing the family’s circumstances.
Santiago Moreno Becomes a Professional Footballer
Moreno made his senior breakthrough with América de Cali in 2019.
His pace, dribbling and ability to play across the attacking line quickly attracted attention.
The 2020 season became particularly important. Moreno scored in the first leg of the Colombian championship final against Independiente Santa Fe and helped América secure another league title.
The goal created one of the proudest moments of Marta Cecilia’s life.
After everything the family had endured during Santiago’s academy years, she watched her son become a championship-winning professional for one of Colombia’s biggest clubs.
Santiago Moreno’s Move to Portland
The Portland Timbers acquired Moreno from América de Cali in July 2021.
The transfer gave Santiago his first opportunity to play professionally outside Colombia.
It also produced one of the biggest family sacrifices of his career.
His mother, sisters, daughter and wider family remained in South America while Santiago settled into life in Oregon.
Moreno later admitted that the separation was difficult, especially because he had spent virtually his entire life close to his mother.
Santiago Missed His Daughter While Living in Portland
Portland’s 2022 profile of Moreno focused heavily on what the young Colombian had left behind.
Although he enjoyed his teammates and was becoming increasingly successful in MLS, the person he missed most was his daughter Ashly.
He maintained daily communication with family members through WhatsApp and valued every opportunity relatives had to travel to Portland.
The experience required Moreno to balance two competing responsibilities: building a professional career abroad and remaining emotionally present for a daughter growing up far away.
His Colombian Teammates Became a Second Family
Portland contained several Colombian players during Moreno’s first years at the club.
Experienced teammates including Dairon Asprilla and brothers Diego and Yimmi Chará helped Santiago adjust to life in the United States.
Those relationships mattered because Moreno had been accustomed to constant contact with his own family.
His Colombian teammates could understand the challenges of living abroad, adapting culturally and remaining connected with relatives back home.
That support helped Moreno gradually feel more comfortable in MLS.
From Portland to Fluminense
After four seasons with Portland, Moreno moved to Brazilian club Fluminense in August 2025.
He left MLS after establishing himself as one of Portland’s most productive attacking players.
The transfer initially promised another major step in his career, but adapting to Brazilian football proved challenging.
His mother eventually joined him in Brazil, while Moreno also sought support from Colombian players based in the country.
The period showed again how heavily he relied on family connections during major transitions.
Santiago Moreno Joins FC Dallas
Moreno returned to Major League Soccer in March 2026 when FC Dallas acquired him on loan from Fluminense.
The agreement runs through the end of the 2026 season and gives FC Dallas an option to complete a permanent transfer.
Dallas gave Moreno the number 10 shirt and a Designated Player roster spot.
The move returned him to a league where he had already accumulated extensive experience during his Portland career.
Santiago Moreno’s Family Remains Central to His Career
Few parts of Moreno’s story can be separated completely from his family.
His mother recognized his talent and spent years finding ways to get him to training. His sisters helped when Marta could not accompany him. Becoming a father at approximately 17 gave him adult responsibility at an unusually young age.
When his career eventually took him away from Colombia, the distance from those relatives became one of his greatest personal challenges.
Even after reaching the highest levels of professional football, Moreno continued relying on that family support, including his mother joining him in Brazil during a difficult period at Fluminense.
Santiago Moreno’s Family FAQ
Who are Santiago Moreno’s parents?
Santiago Moreno’s mother is Marta Cecilia Moreno. His father has not been reliably identified by name in the main public sources covering his childhood and professional career.
Who is Santiago Moreno’s mother?
Santiago Moreno’s mother is Marta Cecilia Moreno. She played a crucial role in his development, accompanying him to training, working to support the family and sometimes selling food and drinks around the academy fields when health problems prevented her from continuing her previous work.
Who is Santiago Moreno’s father?
Santiago Moreno’s father has not been reliably identified in major public football reporting. Available detailed profiles of his upbringing focus primarily on his mother and sisters.
Does Santiago Moreno have siblings?
Yes. Santiago Moreno has two older sisters and is the youngest of three children.
What are Santiago Moreno’s sisters called?
The names of Moreno’s two older sisters have not been reliably published in the major sources reviewed. His mother has confirmed that they helped take Santiago to training when she was unable to do so herself.
Does Santiago Moreno have a daughter?
Yes. Santiago Moreno has a daughter named Ashly.
Who is Santiago Moreno’s daughter?
Moreno’s publicly identified daughter is Ashly. Portland Timbers identified her by name in a 2022 profile, when she was four years old.
How old was Santiago Moreno when he became a father?
Colombian reporting indicates that Moreno became a father at approximately 17 years old.
Who is Ashly’s mother?
The identity of Santiago Moreno’s daughter’s mother has not been reliably established in the major public football sources reviewed.
Who is Santiago Moreno’s girlfriend?
As of now, Santiago Moreno has not publicly confirmed a current girlfriend through a sufficiently reliable source.
Is Santiago Moreno married?
There is no reliable public confirmation that Santiago Moreno is married.
Where is Santiago Moreno from?
Santiago Moreno was born in Cali, Colombia, on April 21, 2000, and grew up in the eastern part of the city.
Which club does Santiago Moreno play for?
As of now, Santiago Moreno plays for FC Dallas in Major League Soccer. He joined on loan from Fluminense in March 2026 and wears number 10.
Miguel Manjate is a football journalist and editor covering the Premier League, European competitions, and transfer news, with a strong focus on match analysis and data-driven reporting.
