Former Toluca star Enrique Alfaro battles vocal‑cord cancer and turns to fans for help

Enrique Alfaro, a standout player during Toluca’s most successful era, is now facing one of the toughest fights of his life: cancer. The former midfielder has turned to digital platforms to ask fans for support as he undergoes treatment.

Through GoFundMe, Alfaro launched a campaign seeking financial help for his battle against vocal‑cord cancer, a condition he has been fighting for some time. He recently had to undergo emergency surgery to remove a tumor.

The operation was successful, but the recovery process — along with ongoing medical treatments — has placed a heavy financial burden on Alfaro and his family. That’s why they decided to open the fundraising campaign to help cover medical expenses and rehabilitation costs.

From Toluca’s “Bombonera” to representing Mexico

During his time with Toluca’s Diablos Rojos, Alfaro earned call‑ups to Mexico’s national team under coaches Bora Milutinovic and Manuel Lapuente. Both managers trusted his talent, and he represented El Tri in official competitions from 1996 to 1998.

He played in the U.S. Cup in 1996 and 1997, the 1998 Gold Cup, and took part in qualifying matches for the 1998 World Cup in France, although he didn’t make the final roster.

His international goals came against Denmark — a match Mexico won 3–1 — and against Canada during World Cup qualifying, a game that ended in a 2–2 draw.

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.