Mexican soccer has always been characterized by producing quality players and it is actually quite surprising that their best national record is reaching the quarterfinals of a World Cup (on two occasions, 1970 and 1986, both World Cups hosted by Mexico ). However, the Mexican team has always been a constant presence in the final tournaments and is considered a tough nut to crack, despite its lack of trophies.
Let’s take a brief look at some of the players who made Mexico the soccer powerhouse it is today.
Famous Mexican Soccer Players – Antonio Carbajal
Nicknamed “El Cinco Copas”, Antonio Carbajal was the first player to participate in 5 World Cups with his team and was only equaled in 1998 by the German legend Lothar Matthaus. Carbajal played for Mexico in all 5 World Cups that took place between 1950 and 1966.
Famous Mexican Soccer Players – Hugo Sanchez
Hugo Sánchez was one of the first soccer players from Mexico to play in Europe at the highest level. He was an iconic Real Madrid player between 1985 and 1992; 7 years in which he scored no less than 253 goals in 283 games, a goal / game ratio that is hard to match.
He also played for the Mexican national team 60 times, scoring 29 goals and being an important player in the 1986 World Cup contested by Mexico, in which his team managed to match the quarterfinal performance initially obtained in 1970. Hugo Sánchez He is currently the manager and coach of the Mexican national team.
Famous Mexican Soccer Players – Jared Borgetti
Borgetti was of Italian and Mexican descent, and as a striker, he combined the flair and power of Italian soccer with the passion and inventiveness of Mexican soccer. Although he is still an active soccer player at 34, he spent most of his time playing in the Mexican league, with 7 years at Santos Laguna, during which time he managed to score nearly 200 goals in 300 games.
But Borgetti’s scoring streak does not end here, as he has also managed to top the all-time record for the Mexican team, with 43 goals in 87 games. Currently, Borgetti plays for Cruz Azul and although he decided to retire from the Mexican team for the next World Cup, he stated that he would love to play for his country one last time, during the CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament.
Famous Mexican Soccer Players – Claudio Suarez
Unlike many other Mexican soccer players who come to celebrate the New Year with a completely new club on their roster, Claudio Suárez has only gone through 4 teams throughout his career: UNAM Pumas (1989-1996), Chivas de Guadalajara ( 1996-1999), Tigres UANL (1999-2005) and Chivas USA (2006). He made a strong impression at all of these clubs and is considered by many to be one of the best Mexican defenders to have played for his country.
Although an extraordinary defender is currently challenging for this title away from Claudio Suárez, namely Barcelona’s Rafael Márquez, there is one title that will hardly be touched by anyone for a long time: Claudio Suárez currently holds the record for caps with the Mexican national. team, with a staggering 178 appearances.
Famous Mexican Soccer Players – Rafael Márquez
Rafael Márquez is probably the best-known Mexican soccer player today, being one of the most important members of the Spanish team FC Barcelona. Márquez’s ability to play as a central defender or right-back, as well as a defensive midfielder, earned him the aura of a “handyman”, being able to play where his coach would need him most.
However, Márquez has recently established himself as a central defender, playing in this position for both the Mexican national team and FC Barcelona in recent years. Rafael Márquez, 28, is the captain of the Mexican team and is already being considered one of the best players in the country’s history, along with mythical names such as Hugo Sánchez or Claudio Suárez.