Hailing from Spain and Portugal, Fer Lopez and Rodrigo Gomes are gearing up for Christmases slightly different to the ones they celebrated as children back home.
Lopez is set for his first Christmas in England, having joined the club in the summer, and will be playing football across the festive period for the very first time.
Gomes tasted a Wolverhampton Christmas for the first time last year and will use the festive period to get himself back fit and ready for action in the new year.
Ahead of the big day, the pair sit down to discuss all things Christmas for two youngsters from the Iberian Peninsula.
Merry Christmas from all at Wolves.
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Your typical Christmas time…
FL: In Spain, at the beginning of December we have some free days where nobody works. That's when usually my family and I put up the tree, so that's when Christmas usually starts for us. Here is very different because we’re playing now – in Spain they give us a week off. This year is going to be quite different, having to play, but it's good too.
RG: As a footballer here in England, it’s different from when I used to be in Portugal. In Portugal, you stop, you don’t play like you do at Christmas here. We don’t have Boxing Day games in Portugal, so it’s different, but before when I was growing up in Portugal, I used to watch the Premier League Boxing Day games with my family at home. Here, even if you get a day with your family, you still need to keep practising and keep playing, but it’s nice because I love to play football, so it’s fine.
A traditional Christmas…
FL: It’s very similar to here, with the decorations, Santa Claus and Christmas trees. In Vigo, they are very famous for the lights, because there's a lot, the mayor likes to put a lot of lights on. My family usually gathers for Christmas Eve and then celebrates on Christmas Day – we do everything.
RG: I’m speaking for by myself here, so it might not be a traditional Portuguese Christmas, but this time for me is all about being with the family, eating together and celebrating together. Being with the family is the most important thing for us. Celebrating Christmas is always about that – being with the family and giving some presents to our loved ones.
Family traditions…
FL: On the 24th my family have dinner all together. We usually go to Madrid, where my grandparents were, and all the family are there on 24th and then we have a lunch on the 25th. Then usually I go with my other grandparents to Coruna or to my house in Vigo to celebrate new year. This year they are coming here, so it's quite different, but the main thing is to be with family. The most important thing about Christmas is the people you celebrate with.
RG: My family don’t have like a traditional thing that we do every year, for us, it’s only about being together. That, for me, is the most important thing, just being together, chatting with each other, because living here and not with my family, it’s not easy to be together like we used to be. This is why Christmas is a good time to be together, to eat together, eat good food – very good food – and enjoy being with my whole family.
The role of religion…
FL: We’re Christian, so it's very important, especially for my grandparents, they are not alive now, but they were Christians. They went to church every Sunday. When I was little I went with them, but now not a lot because I don't have as much time to go, but for us it’s a very important holiday because of its meaning.
RG: I’m religious, but my mother is the most religious person in my family, but like her, we’re all Christians. For me, it’s a very good thing because I feel very safe and know that God will always be by my side. I often talk with God and my mother helps me a lot with that, so we are a religious family, although I didn’t often go to church when I was younger because I was always playing football. My grandma was also religious, so that is why the Christmas period is so important to us as a family.
Boxing Day without football…
FL: We have no game, but we have to beat our best level possible, so I cannot eat the good things like I used in Spain when we had the week off. I have to be professional, that's the most important thing because, for me, football is my job, but also my life. So, I try to be in the best way possible, even if I have to make sacrifices.
RG: Even though we’re not playing, Christmas Day will still be similar. Last season we played against Man United on Boxing Day, but Christmas Day was still the same. My family came here, we were eating together, we chatted together, it was all very nice and it’ll be the same this year. I love this time of Christmas because although outside is very cold, you get to be cosy at home eating good food. So even through we don’t have a game, we’ll be preparing for Liverpool on the 27th, so we can’t stop.
Those Christmas foods…
FL: Chocolates are not allowed now! It’s nothing extraordinary, a little bit of seafood – we like it a lot, because in Vigo it’s very good, so we usually eat that because it's a special occasion.
RG: My father makes a very good cabrito [a goat dish]. I don't know if you eat it here, and I’m not sure what it’s called in English, but it’s like a little lamb. But we also eat bacalao, which is cod fish, and that is very good. My father knows how to cook that very well, so it’s lovely to eat that in the Christmastime.
Christmas for a footballer…
FL: Last Christmas was different because I was injured, so I had a big boot on. It was difficult because I couldn't go out a lot with my friends. I had to be inside a lot for it to recover well. It’s one more sacrifice to be professional, and it was a little bit different because of that, but the most important thing is the people you celebrate with.
RG: For ‘normal’ people who don’t play football, Christmas is a little different because you have more days to enjoy spending time with family, but I’ve got used to that now – it’s fine, and I enjoy it. I knew since I wanted to become a professional footballer that things are not the same, so even if you only have one day with the family, even if you only get a few hours, I make sure to enjoy every possible minute.
Best ever Christmas present…
FL: Football boots, always. I remember when the laceless Adidas Preds came, I was very young, maybe 12 or 13, I remember I was so gassed about them, and then my family bought them for me, and I was so, so happy. I remember we were travelling to the Dominican Republic, because we had New Year’s Eve there with the family, and I brought the boots, and luckily there was a football pitch, so I spent all the afternoons playing there. It was top.
RG: I was not a very complicated child, so I would love any present I received. I loved to receive balls, football boots, anything related to football. I don’t remember a particular pair, but I remember my father would always try to give the best for me and for my brother. We didn’t have a lot, but he would always make sure we had the best boots to try to give us the best chance possible to make it in football. I remember every time I received a new football or a new pair of boots that I would sleep with them in my bed.
Best present given…
FL: In Spain we do invisible friend, like Secret Santa. We did it with my with friends, because with my family we don't do it a lot. With my friendship group it was funny. I cannot say his name because he will get mad at me but let’s say that he needs to go to Turkey soon. I cannot say what I bought to him, but it had something to do with his hair.
RG: That’s a tough one. I’m a person that prefers to give presents than receive them. Maybe the nicest thing I’ve given was a very nice bag for my girlfriend, or when I gave a PS5 to my brother. Maybe that one.
New year’s resolutions…
FL: I don't wait for the for the new year, I try to assess every day what I have to improve. There are people who set the goals, but for me the goals are at the beginning of the season. In Spain, on New Year's Eve, in the last minute of the year, the bells ring, and in 20 seconds, they do 12 bell rings, and then you have to eat 12 grapes, so you have good luck for the next year. It’s a very good tradition – I like it a lot.
RG: My life is football, so thinking of a new year’s resolution not to do with football is tough as football just consumes my life. Obviously, I want us to finish the season well and come back from injury stronger and provide for the team, but that’s football related. Outside of that, I want to try to visit more countries I’ve never been to before, but we need to finish the season well so I can enjoy the vacations more.
This article originally featured in Wolves' official 2025/26 matchday programme. This season's programmes are all available to purchase online through retailers Curtis Sports.
