Mexico National Team

The first Mexican legend is arguably Luis De La Fuentes from the late 1930s to early 1940s saw as the most remarkable attacking midfielder ever in history the North American football. Hugo Sanchez became one of the best strikers in the World in the second half 1980s. 


Mexico


Location :  Central America
Copa America Participation : 10 Times (1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2016)
World Cup Participation : 16 Times (1930, 1950, 1954, 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014)
Achievement : 2 Times Copa America Runner-Up (1993, 2001)
Most Caps : Claudio Suarez (178 Games)
Top Scorer : Javier Hernandez (52 Goals)
The Greatest Player Ever  :  Hugo Sanchez


All-Time Latin North American Squad


                                                                                    
1. Antonio Carbajal

Date Of Birth  :  7 June 1929
Height  : 180 cm, Position : Goalkeeper
Nation : Mexico, Caps :  48 Games
Major Club :  Leon
World Cup Participation: 1950,1954,1958,1962,1966 (11 Games)
Club Honours  : 2 Times Mexico Champions, 1 Time Mexico Cup  
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement  : 
4 Times CONCACAF Footballer of The Year (1953,1956,1957,1961)
1999 IFFHS CONCACAF - Mexican Goalkeeper of The Century
2021 IFFHS CONCACAF All-Time Dream team
Class : Prince Silver
2. Gustavo Pena

Date Of Birth : 22 November 1941
Nation : Mexico, Caps : 82 Games
Position : Left-Back/ Center-Back
Height : 184 cm, Major Club : Cruz Azul, Monterry
World Cup Participation : 1966, 1970 (7 Games)
Club Honours : 5 Time Mexican League
1 Time Mexican Cup, 3 Times CONCACAF Champion Cup
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 1969 CONCACAF Footballer of The Year
Class  : Prince Bronze


3. Ramon Ramirez

Date Of Birth : 5 December 1969
Nation  : Mexico, Caps : 121 Games
Position : Left-Wing-Back/Side-Midfielder
Height : 173 cm
Major Club : Santos Laguna, Chivas
World Cup Participation  : 1994, 1998
Club Honours  : 1 Time Mexican Verano
International Honours  :  1993 Copa Ameirca Runner-Up
3 Times CONCACAF Gold Cup (1993, 1996, 1998)
1999 FIFA Confederation Cup Winner
Individual Achievement : None
Class  : Prince Bronze
4. Claudio Suarez

Date Of Birth : 7 December 1968
Height :  178 cm, Position : Center-Back
Nation :  Mexico, Caps. : 177 Games
Major Club : UNAM, Guadalajara, UNAL
World Cup Participation: 2006 (Games)
Club Honours  : 2 Times Mexican League
International Honours :  1993 Copa America Runner-Up
1999 FIFA Confederation Cup
Individual Achievement  :  2021 IFFHS CONCACAF All-Time Dream team
Class : Prince Bronze

5. Rafael Marquez

Date Of Birth : 13 February 1979
Nation  : Mexico, Caps  : 87 Games
Position : Center-Back/Destroyer
Height : 182 cm, Major Club : Barcelona
World Cup Participation : 2002, 2006, 2010
Club Honours : 1 Time French Ligue, 1 Time French Ligue Cup
3 Times Spanish La Liga, 1 Time Copa Del Rey
2 Times UEFA Champion League (2006, 2009)
2009 FIFA Club World Cup
International Honours : 1999 FIFA Confederation Cup Winner
2001 Copa America Runner-Up, 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup 
Individual Achievement : 2005 North American Player of The Year
2021 IFFHS CONCACAF All-Time Dream team
                                                           Class : Prince Bronze

6. Pavel Pardo

Date Of Birth : 26 July 1976, Height  : 173 cm
Nation  : Mexico, Caps : 149 Games
Position : Destroyer/Right-Back
Major Club : Atlas, America, VFB Stuttgart
World Cup Participation : 1998,2006,2010 (7 Games)
Club Honours : 1 Time Bundesliga Champion
1 Time Mexican Verano, 1 Time Mexican Clausura
2006 CONCACAF Champion Cup
International Honours: 2 Times CONCACAF Gold Cup (1998, 2003)
1999 FIFA Confederation Cup Winner
Individual Achievement  : None
Class  : Prince Bronze


7. Alberto Garcia Aspe

Date Of Birth : 11 May 1967
Nation : Mexico
Position : Defensive Holding Midfielder
Caps : 109 Games, Height : 169 cm
Major Club : Pumas, Necaxa
World Cup Participation: 2006, 2010
Club Honours  :  3 Times Mexican League
1989 CONCACAF Champion Cup
1994 CONCACAF Cup Winners Cup
International Honours : 1996 CONCACAF Gold Cup
1999 FIFA Confederation Cup
Individual Achievement : None
Class :  Prince Bronze

8. Luis De La Fuente

Date Of Birth : 17 January 1914
Nation : Mexico
Position : Attacking Midfielder
Height : Unknown
Major Club :  Real Club Espana
Caps : 9 Games ( 7 Goals)
World Cup Participation  : None
Club Honours : 5 Times Mexican League
International Honours : None
Individual Achievement : 2021 IFFHS CONCACAF All-Time Dream team
Class : Prince Silver


9. Hugo Sanchez

Date Of Birth : 11 July 1958, Position : Target Striker
Nation : Mexico, Caps : 58 Games (29 Goals)
Height : 175 cm, Major Club : Real Madrid 
World Cup Participation : 1978, 1986, 1994 (8 Games/1 goal)
Professional Score Record : 510 Goals/ 880 Games
Club Honours : 4 Times Mexican League
5 Times La Liga, 2 Times Copa Del Rey
2 Times CONCACAF Champion Cup, 1986 UEFA Cup
International Honours : 1977 CONCACAF Gold Cup
Individual Achievement : 1 Time Mexican League Top Scorer
5 Times Spanish La Liga Top Scorer
1990 European Golden Shoe, World League Top Scorer
1987 Spanish La Liga Best Player,1990 Best Foreigner
                                                     IFFHS CONCACAFMexico Greatest Player of The Century
                                                     Mexico Best Sportsman of The Century
                                                     Class  : Queen Silver

10. Salvador Reyes

Date Of Birth  : 30 October 1928
Nation   : Mexico, Caps : 37 Games
Position :  Defensive Holding Midfielder
Height  : 182 cmม Major Club  :  Zacatepec
World Cup Participation : 1954,1958,1962 (7 Games)
Club Honours  : 2 Times Mexican League
3 Times Mexican Cup
International Honours  :  None
Individual Achievement :  None
Class : Prince Silver


11. Javier Hernandez

Date Of Birth : 1 June 1988
Nation : Mexico, Caps : 109 Games (52 Goals)
Height : 175 cm, Position : Target Striker
Major Club :  Man Utd, Leverkusen
Professional Scores Record : 156 Goals/ 426 Games
Club Honours  : 1 Time Mexican Apertura
2 Times English League
2014 FIFA Club World Cup
International Honours : 2 Times CONCACAF Gold Cup
World Cup Participation : 20102014
Individual Achievement : 1 Times Mexican League Top Scorer
2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup Most Valuable Player
2015 CONCACAF Player of the Year
                                                      Mexico All-Time Top Scorer
                                                      Class : Prince Bronze
___________________________________________________

Substitution


Carlos Salcido

Date Of Birth : 2 April 1980
Nation : Mexico, Position : Left-Back
Caps : 124 Games, Height :176 cm
Major Club : PSV Eindhoven
World Cup Participation: 2006, 2010
Club Honours  :  2 Times Dutch League
International Honours : 2011 COCACAF Gold Cup
Individual Achievement : None
Class :  Prince Bronze





Horacio Casarin

Date Of Birth : 25 May 1918
Nation : Mexico
Caps : 16 Games (15 Goals)
Position :  Forward
Height : 173 cm
Major Club  :  Atlante
World Cup Participation : 1950 (3 Games/1 Goals)
Club Honours  : 2 Times Mexican Cup
International Honours :  None
Individual Achievement : 1 Time Mexican League Top Scorer
Class : Prince Bronze






Player-Manager


Raul Cardenas

Year Of Birth :  30 October 1928
Nation  :  Mexico
Major Team : Cruz Azul, Club America
Major Achievement : 6 Times Mexican League
3 Times CONCACAF Champion Cup
Individual Achievement : None
Class  :  Prince Silver












Formation XI (4-3-3)




Explanation of Formation

The team strategy is defensive counter-attack. Carbajal is stand as first choice keeper. Ramon Ramirez is a full-time wing-back to fill the vacancy in left-side midfield area as well as Pardo on right-wing-back. Gustavo Pena is a left-back forming defensive lien alongside C. Suarez and Marquez as sweeper will be the strong partnership in central defender. Garce Aspe would mainly responsible for destroying the opponent game. Reyes is a main playmaker. Fuente would go advanced independently as a free-attacking midfielder role. Hugo Sanchez and Javier Hernandez who is a key player to effectively finish score.

Azteca Stadium



Opened :  1961
City : Mexico City
Capacity :  105, 000 Seats
Field Dimension : 105x68m













Minor Reserved Group 

Oswaldo Sanchez : Goalkeeper
Andre Guardano : Side-Back
Benjamin Galindo : Playmaker
Salvador Reyes : Playmaker
Cuauhtemoc Blanco : Forward
Enrique Borja : Striker


The Greatest Latin North American Footballers of All-Time

1. Hugo Sanchez
2. Antonio Carbajal
3. Luis De La Fuente


45 comments:

  1. Anonymous31/1/15

    what about jorge campos and ignacio flores?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Campos was an agile and intuitive keeper, is definitely more talented than Canejo but his height is always a main problem cannot reach the shot ball in several times.
      Ignacio Flores ? I never heard him and also not found info with his great status. May you suggest on him ?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous1/2/15

      He is Cruz Azul's one club man and appeared in 1978 FIFA World cup. He is all-time finest Mexican Right back

      Delete
    3. I'm doubtful and need more inf to confirm he is that great. Noticeably, he was capped only 12 times.

      Delete
    4. Ignacio "El Nacho" Flores es considerado por la
      aficion y especialistas deportivos en México como el mejor lateral derecho de la historia del futbol mexicano y del Cruz Azul

      Delete
  2. Raul Cardenas BIRTH IN 1928.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous18/5/15

    Please list position for Hugo Sanchez in his biography. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous29/10/15

    what about Manuel Negrete? He was a great player

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm accustomed to his name but I doubt about his consistency when he was chosen as the best player in Mexican league only once time. Look into his record in Europe within a short period, he seems to fail with Sporting CP and Sporting Gijon.

      Delete
  5. Anonymous5/4/16

    Álvaro Murillo was voted as the best Costa Rican football player of all-time by fans, journalists, former players and officials, in 1979:

    Alvaro Murillo - 253 votes
    José R. Fello Meza - 204
    Mario Catato Cordero - 120
    Juan José Gámez - 102
    Edgar Quesada - 87
    Alejandro Morera Soto - 60

    It's curious that Morera was placed too low or received too few votes.

    Also I rated Keylor Navas as the best costa rica best GK ever. No doubt about the importance of conejo in NT, but keylor Navas have already, in a overall view, better and more interesting carrer than him.

    in la Liga, Conejo played in a middle table team, Navas was LFP best GK and play in a top 3 team and in UCL (in a great level). Also in the WC 2014 was one of the best GKs of the competition.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, this is a rare valuable knowledge when I'm not even ever heard of the names in top five. Anyway, what is the position of Alvaro Murillo ? second striker or attacking midfielder ?

      In the peak season, Navas should be better but he disappeared a large part of career as a reserved keeper and the collective performance is not enough.

      Delete
  6. Anonymous5/4/16

    Alvaro Murillo was inside right, not sure if he would be more a second striker or attaking midfielder today.

    More info: http://wvw.nacion.com/ln_ee/1999/agosto/08/deportes4.html

    About Navas, I understand your idea. Maybe is too early to consider him.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous9/10/16

    Cuautemoc Blanco in subs

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous9/10/16

    Carlos Hermosillo was a prolific scorer for club and country

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous9/10/16

    Enrique Borja too

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous9/10/16

    And Oswaldo Sanchez, Guillermo Ochoa, Keylor Navas or Oscar Perez Rojas should replace Conejo

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous9/10/16

    Benjamin Galindo too

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous9/10/16

    Ramon Morales was regarded as Mexico's most skillful left midfielders

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous24/7/17

    Anything special in Fernando Quirarte? I think he's profile is not deserve to this squad

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous7/8/17

    'El Macho' José Roberto Figueroa?

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anonymous15/8/17

    'El Macho' Jose Roberto Figueroa?

    - 1981 CONCACAF Championship Winner
    - 1982 FIFA World Cup Qualifier
    - 1985 CONCACAF Championship Top Goalscorer
    - 1981 part of the 'Rest of the World XI' vs 'Europe XI'

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He mostly played in Spanish second division. In NT career, he won only 28 games although it is understandable that he played aboard.

      Delete
  16. Have you considered Adalberto "Dumbo" López?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I just know him. He never played for Mexico due to being second to his contemporary Horacio Casarin. I'm quite sure Mexican league at that time is not competitive enough so his 5 times top scorer profile is not enough to have him in the place.

      Delete
    2. Adalberto played the 1947 and 1949 NAFC cup for Mexico NT, making a total of 6 games and 4 goals, between 1947-1952.

      Delete
  17. I suggest Ricardo Saprissa. Right back and right half from El Salvador, co-founder of Deportivo Saprissa. He was a legend for Espanyol, played with Ricardo Zamora and won the Copa del Rey in 1929. He played for 10 years with Espanyol. He also played many other sports (tennis, baseball and so on), but he excelled in football and is described as a powerful, strong and honorable defender.

    https://hallofameperico.com/category/0limp0-blanquiazul/saprissa-0limp0-blanquiazul/

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricardo_Saprissa

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OK, his profile seems interesting at the first sight. Let me read the Spanish article before.

      Delete
  18. Anonymous12/1/18

    Quirarte's photo is wrong. It's Javier Aguirre's.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous17/5/18

    Ronaldo Fonseca, Paulo Wanchope and Medford could be included.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Have you changed your mind about Keylor Navas? His performances are almost always very good, he's been an important figure of a 3-times-in-a-row Champions League winning Real Madrid, and a key figure to his National team as well. I really don't see how Conejo could be better, comparing both club and NT career...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Your notification is coincident with my update time for Kelor Navas. He is now clearly better than Conejo who was capped only 30 times approximately. Navas is even one of the best keepers in the World but his longevity is still too short for surpassing Carbajal for now.

      Delete
    2. Thanks for your reply. I agree about Carbajal as well. Navas only blossomed at 28 years old. Let's see if he keeps playing at high level.

      Delete
  21. Naratorn, I wonder about the source of 'CONCACAF Footballer of the year' in Antonio Carbajal and Gustavo Pena's profiles.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I refer to wikipedia but I admit I don't know the reliable source.

      Delete
  22. Hi Naratorn.

    Raúl Cárdenas never played in WC 1970. He was the coach and led Mexico to the quarter finals. I believe you should put him as manager of this formation: in addition to this achievement, he won 4 times the CONCACAF Champions League as a manager and 6 times the Mexican League, plus the Copa Interamericana 1978 (CONCACAF CL winner vs. Libertadores Winner) against Boca Juniors.

    These achievements make him, in my opinion, without a doubt the best CONCACAF manager of all time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous16/11/19

      I think you made a spot, I select him in first XI just referenced to other sources selection but I see there is no stat rating or any article to recognize his ability. What I really wonder about his legend status is his 37 caps. As I check in rsssf, Mexico has 120 international matches during his span of caps. I am really not sure if he deserved.

      I agree he could be the manager of this squad.

      Delete
  23. Anonymous30/12/19

    David Suazo(Honduras)cagliari, Inter, Benfica.
    José Cardona(Honduras) Atlético de Madrid.
    Julio cesar de Leon(Honduras) Genoa, Parma.
    Edgar Alvarez(Honduras) AS Roma, Bari.
    Emilio izaguirre(Honduras) Celtic.
    Paulo Wanchope(Costa Rica) west Ham, Manchester City.
    Hernán Medfor(Costa Rica) Rapid viena, dynamo Zagreb, Foggia.
    Gilberto Martínez(costa Rica) Brescia, AS Roma.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks. All of these names are top Honduran and Costa Rican players but I see no one could reach international-class in at least 3 seasons.

      Delete
  24. Gustavo Peña fue lateral derecho? En todas las publicaciones que vi de él lo ubican de defensor central o lateral izquierdo

    ReplyDelete
  25. Sería bueno si podrías hacer un equipo con solo jugadores de la CONCACAF

    ReplyDelete
  26. Mr. Naratorn, Fernando Quirarte's photo is wrong. It's Javier Aguirre.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Carlos Vela has been a better player than Chicharito Hernández. Probably the best mexican player since Rafa Márquez. Vela was the leader in the prominent Real Sociedad team between 2012 and 2016, even better than Griezmann at the time

    ReplyDelete
  28. Sugiro a inclusão de Luis Garcia "Show" Postigo excelente jogador.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hello, first of all congratulations for your work, It has helped me a lot in mine, in 2019 I started an investigation, I interviewed journalists and former soccer players from my country (Mexico) in addition to collecting newspaper information from the time, and, of course, my own knowledge, this is probably the definitive Mexico squad in its history until 2023, I share it:

    (Some rules: Squad of 23 players, 3 goalkeepers, 1 wildcard player in the defensive zone to make room for one more attacking player)

    SQUAD:

    Goalkeepers:
    1. Antonio "Tota" Carbajal
    2. Jorge Campos
    3. Guillermo Ochoa

    Centre Back
    1. Rafael Marquez
    2. Gustavo "Halcon" Pena
    3. Claudio Suarez
    4. Fernando Quirarte

    Left Back
    1. Carlos Salcido

    Right Back
    2. Ignacio Flores

    Defensive Midfielder
    1. Pavel Pardo
    2. Ignacio Ambriz

    Central Midefilder
    1. Benjamin Galindo

    Side/Central Midefilder
    1. Andres Guardado
    2. Ramon Ramirez

    Offensive Midfielder
    1. Luis "Pirata" Fuente
    2. Tomas Boy

    Right Winger
    1. Irving "Chucky" Lozano

    Second Striker
    1. Cuauhtemoc Blanco
    2. Carlos Vela
    3. Luis "Matador" Hernandez

    Central Forward
    1. Hugo Sanchez
    2. Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez
    3. Jared Borgetti

    FIRST TEAM (4-2-3-1):

    GK Tota
    CB Marquez
    CB Halcon
    LB Ramirez
    RB Flores
    DM Pardo
    CM Galindo
    OM Pirata
    SS Blanco
    SS Vela
    CF Sanchez

    ---

    SECOND TEAM

    GK Campos
    Ochoa
    CB Quirarte
    CB Suarez
    LB Salcido
    RB Suarez (wildcard)
    DF Ambriz
    CM Guardado
    OM Boy
    RW Chucky
    SS Matador
    CF Chicharito
    Borgetti

    ----

    SECOND SQUAD

    FIRST TEAM:

    GK Ignacio "Cuate" Calderon
    CB Alfredo Tena
    CB Raúl Cárdenas
    LB Mario "Pichojos" Perez
    RB Salvador Carmona
    DM Gerardo Torrado
    CM Hector Herrera
    OM Manuel Negrete
    RW Ramon Morales
    LW Jesus "Tecatito" Corona
    CF Carlos Hermosillo

    SECOND TEAM:

    GK Pablo Larios
    Oscar "Conejo" Perez
    CB Jesus Del Muro
    CB Hector Moreno
    LB Arturo Vazquez Ayala
    RB Arturo Vazquez Ayala (Wildcard)
    DM Edson Alvarez
    CM Alberto Garcia Aspe
    OM Sinha
    SS Zague
    Salvador "Chava" Reyes
    RW Jesus "Cabrito" Arellano
    CF Horacio Casarin

    Again congratulations, and sorry for my english.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Some notes about your team:

    Gustavo Peña is not a left back, he is and always was a centre back, Aspe was not a defensive midfielder, he was a very combative box to box with a lot of resistance, but no way he could take charge of the defensive zone by himself, he is support. Benjamin Galindo is probably the most talented soccer player in the history of Mexican soccer below Blanco and Vela, he started his career as an Attacking Midfielder in Tampico Madero, but he was such a long-lived player (he played in 3 different decades) his best moment comes as a playmaker / box to box, next to Ignacio Ambriz was glorious. Pardo began his career as a right-back at Atlas, but reached his best level as a defensive midfielder at América and Stuttgart. The best nominal right-back in the history of Mexican soccer is Ignacio Flores, closely followed by Salvador Carmona, in all case you can opt for Claudio Suárez who dominated that position more than Pardo. Salvador Reyes was a second striker very much in the style of Alfredo Di Stefano, or Manuel "Charro" Moreno, the position in midfield next to Aspe sounds very forced to me, it's like putting Cuauhtémoc Blanco there. I see a Chicharito-Sánchez duo in attack as complicated since they are not complementary, both are center forwards, finishers.

    Quotes from my team:

    We start with Carbajal who reached a very important performance peak in the 50-60s, Marquez commands as a libero while his companion is the CENTRE BACK Gustavo Peña, multi-champion with Cruz Azul, figure of Mexico in 1970. Carlos Salcido is the best nominal Mexican left-back, but Ramirez was always used in that position and Ramirez has to appear in an ideal Mexican XI of all time, of course, that implies a defensive sacrifice (see Gabriel Batistuta's first goal in the 1993 Copa América final), on the right side it is unanimous at the level of fans, press, former soccer players, etc, that Ignacio Flores is the best right-back in history, Salvador Carmona had everything to overcome it but the doping thing happened and he was banned for life.
    In the midfield, Pardo is undoubtedly the best, but he has to be accompanied, in this case I choose Galindo because of his top performance due to his technique and controlled ball output (he was ambidextrous). Above them is the legend Luis de la Fuente, little to add, and as his substitute, one of the most talented soccer players, figure for Mexico in 1986 (great game against Germany in the 4th, Mexico deserved to go to the semifinals), above, the two most talented soccer players of the last 50 years, Blanco and Vela, Lozano natural substitute and Matador Hernández, despite the fact that in the national team he always played as a center forward, in his team Necaxa always played as a second striker, even a winger, he was very fast. Hugo Sánchez, the best, Chicharito has a safe place, but as Hugo's substitute, finally the wildcard opens space for Jared Borgetti.

    ReplyDelete