Why haven’t any Mexican players made a move to a European team after the 2026 World Cup?
The Liga MX apertura has already kicked off, and many of the players from the Mexican team went back with their club teams right after the World Cup.
Mexico was one of the most entertaining teams in the World Cup. With a charismatic coach, Javier Aguirre, a potent attacking trident up top and a rock solid back line, El Tri gave their nation hope of a deep run in a tournament they were co-hosting. They were knocked out by England, bringing an end to their World Cup dream, and sending most of their players back to their clubs almost all of which are based domestically.
A Mexican standoff
When you take a step back and think about the global impact of Mexican soccer, it’s a bit strange that we don’t see players triumphing overseas. You think about guys like Hugo Sanchez, Rafa Marquez and Jorge Campos are the Mexico legends that come to mind when you look at El Tri players who have gone to Europe and succeeded with top clubs on the continent.
At the moment there are four players from the World Cup squad that are playing in the top European leagues. Striker, Raul Jimenez, plays for Wolverhampton and has been in England for a while. Edson Alvarez spent the last year at Fenerbache in Turkey, but is on the books at recently relegated West Ham. Meanwhile, 20 year old Obed Vargas signed by Atletico de Madrid last year after spending the last few seasons with the Seattle Sounders. Finally Alvaro Fidalgo joined Betis in the winter transfer window and played nine matches with the Andalusian club after joining from Club America.
Four players out of a 26 man roster on a team that was in the final 16 of the World Cup and gave England a run for their money. Despite the success in the biggest tournament in the sport, no one has been transferred to a European club since.
What’s the problem?
Why is it that Mexico can’t figure out how to produce players that are capable of playing overseas and succeeding overseas? There are a few Mexican soccer experts who have their explanations. Former Mexico right back Paul Aguilar thinks it’s the valuation that Liga MX clubs put on their players, “It’s the price tag placed on the Mexican player. That always stalls negotiations for players to move abroad. On the contrary, now two are coming back,” said Aguilar referring to Orbelín Pineda and Jorge Sánchez.
Another El Tri legend, Carlos Hermosillo says that Mexico doesn’t have the prestige that some other countries have. “It comes down to the player’s credibility. Comparisons with Brazilians or Argentines don’t hold water, because they already have an established market presence, whereas we don’t. Many Mexican players have gone abroad but returned without having established themselves,” said the former Cruz Azul man, who also talked about clubs giving young players a chance. “Chivas has to field young players—it’s a must (since they only play with Mexicans)—and what Pachuca does by giving young players an opportunity strikes me as extraordinary.”
Arturo Villanueva blamed the fact that Mexican clubs attach a high price to their players, making them unattractive for European clubs to take a chance on, and they end up returning. “We set very high prices, and we aren’t a reliable market for Europe. Players start to do well, but then a massive offer comes in from the Americas—from Toluca or Monterrey—and they end up back here, because in Mexico we pay a premium for them and lack an export culture.”
Is there a solution?
Eduardo “Yayo” de la Torre, who played with El Tri for four years in the 1980s, claims that young players are getting their first team debuts too late. “In Europe, they look for players who are 23 or younger. Unless we start fielding players at a younger age, I see it as very difficult. Erik Lira isn’t going to Europe because of his age—he certainly has the talent. He’s already 26.”
One of the young promises of Mexican soccer is garnering plenty of attention from European clubs. Teenage sensation Gilberto Mora plays with Club Tijuana, and was one of the most exciting players for Mexico during the World Cup. Real Madrid, Manchester City, Barcelona and AC Milan are all rumored to be keeping track of the 17 year old. The price tag for Mora raised from $11.5 million to $28.5 million after a successful World Cup campaign, according to Transfermarkt.
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