Ronaldo Ayala Is Where Football, Music, and New York Collide

Ronaldo Ayala

If you’ve stepped into a Brooklyn pub for a match, walked past a Canal Street football pop-up, or seen a DJ wearing a custom football shirt on stage, there’s a strong chance Ronaldo Ayala had something to do with it.

Born in El Salvador and raised in New York, football was never optional. Barcelona matches defined his childhood. The 2015 season lives rent-free in his memory. La Remontada wasn’t just a comeback; it was a moment that solidified obsession.

Now 27, Ronaldo works with Classic Football Shirts, leading the New York social media presence and coordinating activations across the city. But his role goes beyond organizing pop-ups. He prints.

When popular DJ Zulan needs a custom shirt for a show, whether that’s a logo pressed on the back or a specific era jersey sourced, she calls Ronaldo. What started with Zulan’s mom walking into the store one day turned into a creative partnership. From store takeovers on Canal Street to live show merch runs, Ronaldo has printed and produced shirts that merge football heritage with music culture. Every drop feels intentional.

He’s done the same for UK-based DJ Hamdi, producing limited-run shirts for Boiler Room-style events in New York. For Ronaldo, blending music and football isn’t a marketing strategy. It’s instinct.

The path here wasn’t linear. With a degree in physical education and a concentration in education, he once imagined teaching. Instead, after managing at Soccer Post and attending Football Society events in Brooklyn, he built relationships within New York’s tight football community. A pop-up became a permanent store. A conversation became a career.

He’s watched Arsenal matches alongside Spike Lee after holding a shirt at a Brooklyn watch party. He’s traveled to Kansas City for Premier League activations, Mexico City for international events, Miami and LA for store build-outs, and even Spain, where he networked with vintage football shops overseas.

Whether modeling jerseys for creatives, running rooftop football events, or printing last-minute DJ shirts before doors open, Ronaldo operates in motion.

Looking toward 2026 and the World Cup buzz, his goal is to expand globally, activate overseas, and secure a marketing role at Classic Football Shirts.

Because when football becomes culture, and culture becomes work, you’re exactly where you’re meant to be.