How a little-known striker climbed above Messi’s league in value

Mexico may not feature among the most common nationalities in Major League Soccer, yet its players have consistently proven superior in quality – and their market value stands as clear evidence.

Today, a player like Gilberto Mora, who does not play in Europe, leads the top 10 hypothetical transfer values. The list includes four players from MLS and five from Liga MX, but the young striker stands out even above Inter Miami’s marquee signing, Germán Berterame.

His distinction is not merely a measure of talent – it reflects the growing influence of a new narrative shaping North American soccer.

Gil Mora, the standout across Liga MX and MLS

The International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES) has released its latest ranking of players with the highest estimated transfer values across 70 leagues worldwide.

At just 17 years old, Mora carries the distinction of being the most valuable player across two leagues that showcase Concacaf’s quality, while also placing Liga MX ahead of the competition that features the world’s top player.

At the top of the regional list, “Morita” boasts a valuation of around $17 million, surpassing Berterame’s roughly $16.5 million.

In third place sits another standout from Mexican soccer, a key figure under Gabriel Milito – Bryan “Cotorro” González – followed by Efraín Álvarez, another product with ties to the same development pipeline.

The Mexico U-20 striker ranks No. 135 globally in the CIES standings.

His valuation is not based solely on goal-scoring output, but on a blend of factors including age, minutes played, attacking performance, career projection, and competitive context.

These metrics position Mora as an outlier within both Liga MX and MLS, where value typically concentrates on players with greater international exposure or those already involved in active transfer markets.

In simple terms, despite limited global visibility, he has optimized key valuation indicators, placing himself above players backed by stronger commercial structures – such as Berterame, the missing No. 9 in a team that, beyond being champions in the United States, is also home to Lionel Messi.

The rest of the top 10 highest estimated transfer values

The remainder of the list reflects a balance between MLS and Liga MX talent, highlighting the region’s growing market strength.

1. Mbekezeli Mbokazi (Chicago Fire) – age 20 – $12.3 million
2. Brian Rodríguez (Club América) – 25 – $12.1 million
3. Facundo Torres (Austin FC) – 25 – $11.9 million
4. Pedro Vite (Pumas) – 24 – $11.8 million
5. Kévin Denkey (FC Cincinnati) – 25 – $11.7 million
6. Brian Gutiérrez (Chivas) – 22 – $11.4 million

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