After that match, you wrote on Instagram that the comeback was only the beginning. Unfortunately, the joy only lasted two games. When you got injured again, did it make you realise just how fragile football can be?
Kevin: Yeah, definitely. When you dream of becoming a professional, people always tell you that you need a Plan B and that injuries are part of the game. But honestly, that was never really in my head. The second time hit me harder because I had just been out for eight months already. It was exactly the same feeling. I knew immediately that it had happened again. In that moment, it was clear to me that the next few months would be hell. But I also knew I couldn’t waste any more time. So my first thought was: let’s get this done, no matter how long it takes.
So there was never a Plan B?
Kevin: No, never. This has always been my dream and my goal. From the moment I started playing football, I knew there was no turning back. And that hasn’t changed to this day. Of course, there comes a point where you start asking yourself what your limit is. Learning to walk again, waking up every day with a clear mind – that was extremely difficult. I’d say that over the past year and a half, I went through more mentally than physically. But I’m convinced that you have to go through phases like that to become the person you want to be.
So was 2025 a year to forget?
Kevin: Not at all. I’m actually very grateful for this year. When something you love is taken away from you, you miss it even more. I learned so much about myself and understood that all of this is part of my journey. I knew I had two options: I could doubt myself every day and think about the good old times, or I could wake up every morning and give everything I have – even if it’s just small steps. In my family, nothing was ever handed to anyone, not to my parents and not to my brothers.
In what way?
Kevin: My parents came to the United States from the Dominican Republic when they were 18 years old. No money, no security – just a mindset of hard work and the will to build a better life. When you come from a poor country, you’re grateful for everything. That’s something they taught me early on. My dad still tells me how he used to walk almost an hour to another town just to get to school. Stories like that keep you grounded. You understand that nothing in life is given to you and that you have to work for everything.
What does your father do for a living?
Kevin: My parents and my brothers all work in IT. I’m the only one who chose a different path. I still remember “Bring Your Kid to Work Day.” I was probably around eleven years old and spent four hours watching my dad typing at his desk. That’s when I realised pretty quickly that I could never work an office job. My dad always joked that if football didn’t work out, there would always be a spot for me in his office. After that, I probably pushed myself a few extra percent in rehab. (laughs)
Did you discover other things you enjoyed during your injury break?
Kevin: Yeah. Micky van de Ven got me into darts. I set up a proper darts setup at home and we played against each other a lot, mostly over FaceTime. Then there was cooking. I never really cooked during my first years in Wolfsburg. I usually grabbed food from the VfL centre or went out to eat with Aster Vranckx and Micky. None of us really cooked. When they left, I had to figure something out. (laughs) So I started learning how to cook. During that time, I also spent a few months back home with my family. I hadn’t spent that much time with them in years. It really helped me clear my head.
We heard you also completed a very different kind of marathon back home.
Kevin: I watched all the Marvel movies with my dad, in the correct order. It took a few weeks in total. Huge respect to my dad – he often came home late from work, I made sure I had finished all my rehab exercises by then, and then we’d sit on the couch and watch two or three movies per night. He often went to bed at one or two in the morning and then got up again just a few hours later for work. That was really special for me and brought me back to my childhood a bit.
Looking at the sports landscape in the US, football isn’t exactly at the top. How did you get into the game?
Kevin: It’s actually a pretty funny story. In the Dominican Republic, baseball is clearly the number one sport. When my older brothers were young, my parents wanted them to play some kind of sport, so they first put them into baseball. The problem was that baseball games take forever – three, four hours. My parents just didn’t have the patience for that. At some point they said they couldn’t do that every weekend anymore. So my brothers switched to football. And eventually, that just got passed on to me.
Was football ever competing with another sport for you?
Kevin: If I weren’t so small, I might be playing basketball today. I played a lot until middle school, also in teams. I was solid – not outstanding, but good. As the level got higher, the opponents got better, taller and more athletic. At that time, I was playing football and basketball in parallel. On many weekends, I had to choose because the games were at the same time. That’s when I realised I didn’t have a real chance of becoming a professional in basketball. With football, it felt different. So I told my parents back then: this is my path.
A good decision, I’d say. You’re already training with the team again in Portugal. How close do you feel to your comeback?
Kevin: I don’t want to jinx anything, but I feel like I’m getting closer and closer. I can already smell the grass at the Volkswagen Arena. As much as I enjoy watching the guys play, I want to be part of it again – the good moments and the difficult ones.
What role do you see yourself in once you’re fully back?
Kevin: In my head, I always want to be in the starting eleven. At the same time, I know the guys worked hard while I was out and that we have good momentum right now. Compared to my early days at VfL, I’m stronger physically and mentally and feel more comfortable showing my technical skills on the pitch. I want to help the team, bring energy – and of course fight for my spot.
This year’s World Cup will take place in Canada, Mexico and the USA – including your home country. How much motivation does that give you?
Kevin: A lot, honestly. I know that time is limited. But since the 2022 World Cup, I’ve always felt like I’m close. Back then, I wasn’t in the final squad, but I was part of the extended group – and that showed me that I’m on the radar. I know it will be extremely difficult. Still, I don’t think the dream is out of reach. In football, anything is possible. That’s why I try not to put too much pressure on myself and just give everything every single day.
So you allow yourself to dream?
Kevin: Absolutely. If you don’t allow yourself to dream, you shouldn’t even lace up your boots. At the same time, I know I have to earn those big dreams. Right now, my focus is on getting fully fit and hopefully being back out there with the team in the next matches.
