Injury mystery surrounds Mexico’s teenage starlet Gilberto Mora ahead of the World Cup

The alarms are still blaring in Tijuana around the condition of Gilberto Mora, the 17‑year‑old midfield prodigy whose rise has captivated Mexican soccer.

Mora is dealing with pubalgia, a notoriously tricky groin injury, and with the 2026 World Cup fast approaching, his recovery timeline remains a complete mystery. The big question hanging over everything: Should the young star undergo surgery before the World Cup — or after?

Long‑term, surgery appears almost unavoidable. But Mora’s camp is trying to delay any operation, hoping that strict rest will be enough to stabilize the injury. The problem? Doctors say pubalgia doesn’t follow a predictable recovery schedule, leaving everyone guessing.

An injury that dates back to preseason

According to an off‑the‑record source, Mora’s issues began during preseason ahead of the Clausura 2026. Before Xolos’ opener against América, he first felt discomfort in his pelvis — but still played nearly the entire match, coming off in the 87th minute. He then missed the double‑game week against Querétaro and managed only one half against Atlético San Luis on January 17.

Two days after that match, the Mexican national team’s medical staff evaluated him during camp for January friendlies against Panama and Bolivia. Realizing the severity of the injury, they immediately sent him back to Tijuana. Since then, Mora’s physical condition has been a puzzle with no clear answers.

A medical odyssey across two countries

Once back with Xolos, Mora was evaluated by the club’s medical team. When the results weren’t encouraging, he was sent to a specialized clinic in Santa Monica, California — the same facility that operated on Raúl Jiménez (2023) and César “Chino” Huerta (2025) for similar pubalgia issues.

AS USA learned that the initial recommendation from U.S. specialists was surgery, which would speed up recovery. But those same doctors also acknowledged that the injury might heal with total rest. In both scenarios, there was no reliable recovery timeline.

To eliminate any doubt, Mora’s agent, Rafaela Pimenta, sent him to another elite medical group in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After nearly two weeks of detailed testing, the diagnosis was slightly more optimistic: six weeks of treatment and complete rest.

Day‑to‑day until further notice

For now, Mora’s recovery will be handled day by day, with hopes that his body responds well enough to avoid surgery — at least until after the World Cup. But with the clock ticking and Mexico counting on its teenage gem, uncertainty remains the only constant.

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