The career of Hirving Lozano has featured many ups and downs, as the Mexican winger has been an enigma for both club and country.
The 30-year-old has at times been unplayable, earning a big-money move to Serie A giants Napoli while building himself into a superstar for the Mexico national team.
Yet there have also been struggles both on and of the field. After his European club career began to fizzle, a move to MLS expansion side San Diego FC was meant to be a new beginning.
Nine goals and eight assists in his debut MLS season helped San Diego FC clinch the Western Conference final on the final day of the season, playing a key role in the squad's success.
Yet as the team celebrated the regular season accomplishment and looked ahead to the playoffs ahead, Lozano was not on hand to join in the jubilation. After a disciplinary exile by head coach Mikey Varas and his staff, it seems the Mexico star will finally be ready to return for San Diego.
MORE: Why is Hirving Lozano nicknamed 'Chucky'?
Is 'Chucky' Lozano playing for San Diego FC?
According to Tom Bogert of The Athletic, 'Chucky' Lozano's status for the 2025 MLS Cup playoffs is in serious doubt.
Bogert reported that an incident in the San Diego FC locker room at halftime of the club's penultimate regular season match against Houston Dynamo has caused the club to reconsider his place in the squad.
The report states that after Lozano was subbed off at halftime, the Mexico international reacted angrily, resulting in a verbal altercation. Who he clashed with is unclear, but the San Diego coaching staff has responded with disciplinary action.
Lozano did not appear in the squad for San Diego's final regular season match, a 4-0 win at Portland Timbers which sealed the Western Conference title.
"We've had a situation we're dealing with internally," said head coach Mikey Varas after the match in response to a question regarding Lozano's absence.
Chucky did not appear in the matchday squad for San Diego FC's opening playoff match against the Portland Timbers in Round One, which the Western Conference champions won 2-1 on home soil.
MORE: All 2025 MLS Cup playoff fixtures, schedule, bracket, and results
Will 'Chucky' Lozano play in the MLS playoffs?
According to Bogert's report, a source told The Athletic that "Lozano needs to prove how committed he is to the locker room" if he wishes to see the field in the playoffs.
After Chucky did not appear in the matchday squad for San Diego's opening win over the Portland Timbers, Varas confirmed in his pre-match media availability that he would return in a substitute role for the second game, a match which could clinch a spot in the Western Conference semifinals.
After winning the first game, victory in the second of their best-of-three series would clinch a series win for San Diego. Should they suffer defeat in Oregon, they would return home for a winner-take-all third match.
This saga was not the first time that Lozano has been ousted from a squad after clashing with staff. After a March 2024 defeat to the United States in the CONCACAF Nations League final, Lozano made comments perceived as criticism of head coach Jaime Lozano, saying, “We didn't come out on our best day. The approach wasn't right, and we all failed to do things."
Lozano was not called in to the Mexico national team for over a year after that, finally returning to the fold this past September.
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How much did 'Chucky' Lozano cost San Diego FC?
The 30-year-old joined San Diego FC from Dutch side PSV in January on a transfer worth a reported $12 million.
Lozano signed a Designated Player contract that sees him paid the fifth-highest salary in Major League Soccer, earning $7.63 million according to the annual salary release by the MLS Players Association.