Born in La Algaba, Province of Seville, Tristán came through the youth ranks of local Real Betis,[3] going on to finish his sporting development with the reserves of Mallorca.

[7] After nearly moving to league powerhouse Real Madrid in the summer of 2000, a deal barred by Lorenzo Sanz's exit from the club's presidency,[8] Tristán joined Deportivo de La Coruña.

[9][7] As Makaay was first-choice in 2000–01, Tristán threatened to quit Deportivo when he found himself in and out of the side,[10] but became an undisputed starter the following season and responded, netting 21 league goals and taking home the Pichichi Trophy, which included a hat-trick in a 5–0 win over former club Mallorca.

[11][7] He added six in that campaign's UEFA Champions League and five in the Copa del Rey, which his team won after beating Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium,[12][13][14][15] for a total of 32 goals.

[30] He regained some of his scoring form in his only season,[31] but his team was relegated after finishing in 19th position; although he himself grabbed a brace in the last league match, a 4–2 home win against Numancia on 19 June 2010, it eventually proved insufficient.

[32] On 2 June 2001, courtesy of his stellar Deportivo performances, Tristán earned a debut for Spain, scoring in a 4–1 home win against Bosnia and Herzegovina in a 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Oviedo.