MEXICO
Who is Sheraldo Becker, Suriname’s likely danger man against Mexico?
A key player for surprise package Union Berlin, Becker is the chief attacking threat in Mexico’s CONCACAF Nations League opponents.
Led by new boss Diego Cocca, Mexico begin their journey towards the 2026 World Cup when they take on Suriname in the CONCACAF Nations League on Thursday.
Suriname look to dance to Becker’s beat
On paper, the South Americans may seem like a straightforward opponent, but their head coach Aron Winter - who, by the way, faced Mexico in the 1998 World Cup in France - will be hoping his star player, Union Berlin’s Sheraldo Becker, can hurt El Tri going forward.
Becker was born in the Netherlands on February 9, 1995, but qualifies to play for Suriname through his parents, who are both from the country. He joined Ajax’s youth academy in 2004, and spent the next decade there until 2015, when he was loaned out to PEC Zwolle.
A year and a half later, he was signed by ADO Den Haag for a period of three seasons and would eventually arrive at Union Berlin, in mid-2019.
Becker and Union Berlin enjoying fine season
This season, Union are enjoying a stellar campaign. Currently third in the Bundesliga, they’re challenging German giants Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich for the domestic title. In September last year, Becker scored against Munich in a duel that ended in a 1-1 draw.
So far this year, Union they have only lost one game in the Bundesliga - against Bayern - and can boast of having knocked Edson Álvarez’s Ajax out of the Europa League. On an individual level, Becker has seven goals to his name in the German league, and one more in Europe. Mexico’s centre-backs and goalkeeper will have to be highly alert to the danger posed by Suriname’s star man.