Christian Ramirez is etched in Minnesota United FC history.
In 2017, the club entered Major League Soccer with Ramirez as its first ever signing, moving up with the team from the North American Soccer League (NASL). Ramirez, who earned the nickname Superman while at Minnesota United, scored the club’s first MLS goal and was its leading goal-scorer in its inaugural season, scoring 14 goals in 30 appearances (27 starts).
“It’s a place that gave me a lot over five years and a place that I have a special connection with the city and the fans,” Ramirez said. “Last year (with Columbus Crew) was the first time I ever went back to Allianz [Field] so I'm excited to go back.”
In Minnesota United’s second season in MLS, Ramirez was traded to LAFC before he continued his career at the Houston Dynamo FC, Aberdeen FC in Scotland’s Premiership, and the Columbus Crew, where he won MLS Cup and Leagues Cup before returning home to Southern California to join the LA Galaxy this offseason. Ramirez has scored against Minnesota United with the Dynamo but has yet to find the back of the net in Minnesota, playing just once there in the opposition’s kit.
Now, with two goals in consecutive appearances for the Galaxy across the Concacaf Champions Cup and MLS, Ramirez returns to Minnesota to face his MLS debut club when the Galaxy face Minnesota United on Saturday, March 22 at 1:30 p.m. PT (Apple TV) at Allianz Field.
“My confidence never waivers,” Ramirez said after the 1-1 draw in Portland. “I believe in myself, and I put too much hard work into this, and I know the goals will come. For me, the main thing is results for the team. ... I'm not too worried about scoring, and I know it will come. It's coming now, and it's obvious that we're starting to play better and we're starting to understand each other.”
Ramirez is one of three strikers who have featured this season, along with Miguel Berry and fellow Galaxy newcomer Matheus Nascimento. Ramirez came off the bench in both games in which he’s scored in. The latter goal secured the Galaxy their first point of the 2025 MLS Regular Season campaign in Portland, just days after the first win of the year for the Galaxy over C.S. Herediano in the Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16.
"He came in and he gave us some things that we needed,” Galaxy Head Coach Greg Vanney said after the game in Portland. “He linked up a couple plays and he made a good run in behind the back line which obviously was the difference. It's nice to get a goal from him.”
The turn of good results for the Galaxy also come at a time where the team got its first week without a midweek fixture since starting the 2025 season, allowing players to work further on chemistry with a slew of new pieces in the squad this year.
"Building more and more trust with each other, more understanding of movements and tendencies and that only happens with time on the practice field,” Ramirez said.
