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BEHIND THE STRIPES

Jhesua Rivera Melgar

By Atlanta United FC

July 28^th, 2025

Alejandro Jhesua Rivera Melgar added fashion designer to his resume.

As Atlanta United players step out onto the pitch Saturday night against Seattle Sounders, they wore special kits to honor pediatric illness patients like Jhesua, who designed this year’s custom numbers.

Jhesua and 5-Stripes midfielder Will Reilly made the numbers together back in May, chopping it up about life, their interests and what the funniest things they could put on the numbers were. Through Atlanta United, Jhesua’s art featured on the backs of the 5-Stripes during the match July 26.

“It’s amazing. I still can't believe it's happening,” Jhesua said. “I never thought it would happen. I’m really excited to see the team wearing it. I feel like it like shows like who I am, my story and everything not only me but my family had to go through.”

BEHIND THE STRIPES

BEHIND THE STRIPES

BEHIND THE STRIPES

Jhesua’s sense of humor is unshakeable. He jokes about just about everything he threw on the numbers. It’s especially remarkable for someone who has gone through what he has since his Sickle Cell anemia diagnosis at age 1.

His family, originally from Comayagua, Honduras, moved to the United States when Jhesua was 6 in search of better treatment for his illness.

“The principal thing was for his condition,” his mother, Nazzaria, said. “… One day, the [health professionals in Honduras] told me, ‘We will give you medicine when we have it, because we have other persons that need more medicine.’ And I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, but they need to help my son.’”

His family said he was in emergency rooms every three weeks when they first moved, an unpredictable lifestyle that would take a toll on anyone mentally and physically. Jhesua called upon his family to help carry the weight of his condition.

“They always supported me,” Jhesua said. “As I grew older, I started to rely on God a lot. Relying on my family and God in that way helped me continue to believe and have faith everything would get better. That would help me when I was going through difficult times.”

BEHIND THE STRIPES

BEHIND THE STRIPES

BEHIND THE STRIPES

Jhesua picked soccer out of everything to highlight as one of his favorite things. Of course, the sport runs in the family, as his grandpa coaches at an academy in Honduras.

“It’s in the genes,” Jhesua said.

An avid Atlanta United and Real Madrid fan, he consumes the sport in every way. He and his dad attend 5-Stripes games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium often, and they even got to the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup matches.

“I mostly like to hang out with my family and my close friends,” Jhesua said. “I like being surrounded, since it helps me be at ease.”

Jhesua was thrilled to be able to tour Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground with his family for the photoshoot with his numbers. He and Will printed their own custom Connector kits with the numbers they designed after a tour of the facilities.

BEHIND THE STRIPES

BEHIND THE STRIPES

Will, along with fashion designer, will be able to add model to his resume, on top of his professional soccer ventures. He faithfully stood up with his back turned to Jhesua so he could walk through all the imagery within the numbers on the back of the kit. Some of the drawings were significant pieces of Jhesua’s personality and identity, like the Honduras flag. Others are silly doodles from the 17-year-old and 22-year-old professional athlete.

BEHIND THE STRIPES

BEHIND THE STRIPES

“[Will’s] a fun person to be around,” Jhesua said. “I can communicate with him easily. With the drawings, we just went with it as time went on. I was having fun when he tried to draw the Honduras flag.”

There’s a piano and a guitar, representing the instruments Jhesua has been playing since middle school.

“They catch my attention,” he said. “I don't play them [well], but I still like to mess with it.”

His other sporting interests are featured too, including a Formula One car. Jhesua roots for Mercedes and follows others closely.

A dog riding a skateboard is in there. There’s also a mustache, which Jhesua and Will chuckle about.

“That was all his idea,” Jhesua said, laughing.

Another theme that pertains to his life is space. A rocket ship and aliens are sprinkled throughout the numbers, and Jhesua said he loves studying astronomy and learning new facts about the universe.

BEHIND THE STRIPES

BEHIND THE STRIPES

BEHIND THE STRIPES

The red ribbon on the numbers represents blood cancer awareness and support. Though Jhesua’s condition isn’t cancer-related, he empathizes with those going through similar health complications. Even in his moment to showcase his story on the numbers, he was thinking of others and found a way to honor them.

“I don't only look at it as cancer, but the whole health,” Jhesua. “I always care about my health and the health of other people.”

Jhesua’s moment seeing the numbers on-kit Saturday wouldn’t be complete without a close-up view. Atlanta United’s Community Impact team surprised him and his family after they toured the training ground, informing him he would be the honorary captain for the Seattle match.

“I know there's a lot of children, and somehow I got chosen, so I know that that's a huge blessing,” Jhesua said. “Being able to do this and then to meet everybody, it means a lot.”

BEHIND THE STRIPES

BEHIND THE STRIPES

Footnotes

Story by Adam Jasper / Photos by Steven Burroughs, Dave Williamson

FootNotes

Story by Adam Jasper / Photos by Steven Burroughs, Dave Williamson

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