Ranking the Top 20 Players from Liga MX in January 2015
The first four matchdays of the Liga MX 2015 Clausura are in the books. The thrill and excitement of the first month of the tournament couldn't have been possible without 20 outstanding footballers.
These players have left it all on the pitch in the hope to help their clubs start the season in style and eventually make the Liguilla.
From strikers such as Dayro Moreno, who is in charge of Tijuana's attack (since Dario Benedetto left for America), to goalkeepers like Jesus Corona, the 2015 Clausura has kept the fans on the edge of their seats.
Let's take a look at the 20 footballers that stood out in January.
20. Jose Carlos Toffolo Junior (Cruz Azul)
1 of 20
Cruz Azul decided to leave Mariano Pavone out of their plans, probably because the Argentine only scored four times in 15 appearances in the Apertura.
This season, they turned their head to Brazil and found a young and powerful forward: Jose Carlos Toffolo Junior, otherwise known as Alemao.
The 25-year-old has already scored once in three appearances. His toughness and willingness set him as a lethal player inside the box.
He has fantastic dribbling skills and hunger to make a difference with La Maquina.
19. Ricardo Jesus (Tijuana)
2 of 20
Ricardo Jesus has made quite an impression this season with Tijuana.
He arrived in Mexico in 2014 from Russian side CSKA Moscow. The Brazilian joined Queretaro but he only appeared 10 times and didn't score.
Now, with Xolos, he is determined to make an impact on the pitch. So far he has appeared three times and has put the ball away once.
He has made a fantastic partnership with Dayro Moreno, which will surely help Tijuana return to the playoffs after missing last tournament's Liguilla.
18. Fidel Martinez (Universidad De Guadalajara)
3 of 20
Fidel Martinez continues to lead Universidad de Guadalajara.
He has been a stalwart of the team since he left Tijuana last season. Martinez's experience and determination have been two of the strongest points of Leones Negros.
After four appearances in the 2015 Clausura, Martinez has put the ball away three times, which equals the total number of goals his club has so far.
Leones Negros are fighting to stay in the first division, Martinez has done his job in style.
17. Oribe Peralta (America)
4 of 20
Oribe Peralta picked up where he left off last season.
In the 2014 Apertura, he was the top Mexican scorer in the league (along with Eduardo Herrera) with a total tally of nine goals.
After four matchdays, El Hermoso has put the ball away twice, more than any of his teammates, and has proven to be even more lethal with Darwin Quintero and Dario Benedetto by his side.
Peralta's leadership in the attacking zone has been fundamental for America, especially since Antonio Mohamed left the squad.
16. Hugo Ayala (Tigres UANL)
5 of 20
Hugo Ayala has matured quickly, and it shows.
The UANL centre-back fights every ball that reaches his team's box, but also joins the attack on a regular basis, especially in set pieces.
Ayala is fantastic with headers, plus he has a gifted right leg, with which he can pass the ball or shoot easily.
Tigres have struggled a lot this season. They have a 1-0-3 record, which has more to do with the lack of power in the attacking zone than with defensive errors.
Ayala has taken a big role in helping his side's defeats be less painful.
15. Francisco Rodriguez (Cruz Azul)
6 of 20
Francisco Rodriguez keeps being Cruz Azul's guardian angel in the back line.
The Mexico international might not be the most athletic centre-back in the league, but what he lacks in physical form he compensates with experience.
El Maza has been a fantastic leader. He has organized his younger teammates and made a strong partnership with Jesus Corona.
La Maquina have not lost a single game and have not conceded a single goal, and that is in great part due to Rodriguez's performance.
14. Jesus Corona (Cruz Azul)
7 of 20
Cruz Azul continue their unbeaten streak after four matchdays, and that is in great part due to Jesus Corona.
The Mexico international has seven saves in four appearances, as well as four clean sheets. He has also been instrumental in organizing the defenders.
Corona hasn't been called up to the national team since the 2014 World Cup, but he has said that he is working really hard to make a comeback (in Spanish).
There's no doubt that the 'keeper is putting in a lot of effort to achieve his goal.
13. Joao Rojas (Cruz Azul)
8 of 20
Cruz Azul haven’t been powerful in the attacking zone. Despite a 2-2-0 record, La Maquina have only put the ball away two times.
Joao Rojas was the scorer of the first one, giving his team three points when they faced Pachuca at Estadio Hidalgo.
Rojas has proven to be the most creative player on his side's roster. He fights for every ball and gives his teammates plenty of opportunities to make a difference in the score.
He hasn't shined more because he lacks support, but as soon as he makes a strong partnership with Alemao, he will be even more lethal.
12. Leiton Jimenez (Veracruz)
9 of 20
Leiton Jimenez has been a thriving force for Veracruz this season, and the timing couldn't have been better, as Tiburones Rojos are fighting to leave the relegation zone behind.
Jimenez is a powerful centre-back who defends his side's box ferociously, but he is no stranger to scoring.
So far, the Colombian has put the ball away twice in four appearances, thanks to his fine touch that allows him to shoot from outside the box in style.
In set pieces, Jimenez takes advantage of his aerial game to make a difference in the score.
11. Gerardo Alcoba (UNAM)
10 of 20
Gerardo Alcoba arrived in UNAM for the 2015 Clausura, and he hasn't let down.
So far, the Uruguayan has started all four matchdays of the tournament, and in the last two he has put the ball away twice.
But make no mistake, Alcoba is a centre-back rather than a forward. The reason why he is so lethal inside the box is his aerial game, plus he knows how to leave the defenders behind easily.
Before playing for Pumas, Alcoba was part of Ecuadorian club Quito, where he spent one year.
10. William Yarbrough (Leon)
11 of 20
Despite Leon's terrible record (two draws and two defeats), William Yarbrough has been instrumental in preventing his club from being a bigger embarrassment.
The Mexican goalie has made 17 saves and has faced 22 shots on goal so far, per Fox Sports. His dives have been as good as when the Panzas Verdes secured two successive Liga MX titles.
If the team were more organized, Yarbrough's work would get even more attention.
9. Carlos Esquivel (Toluca)
12 of 20
Carlos Esquivel was a key element for Toluca last season. He didn't score, but he recorded three assists and became one of the best playmakers of the Liga MX.
In the 2015 Clausura, the veteran has put the ball away two times and has also made a couple of assists, proving he is going through a fantastic moment in his career.
Esquivel is a skillful winger who is usually in charge of the left flank, from where he can run all the way to the goal line to send a cross and put the defenders in distress, or get inside the box to surprise the goalkeeper.
8. Walter Kannemann (Atlas)
13 of 20
Walter Kannemann left San Lorenzo after six seasons, including the promotion match.
The Argentine is now wearing the Atlas jersey. After two appearances, he has netted once, proving that he can help the team when in distress, despite being a centre-back.
Kannemann's aerial game is superb. He is a fantastic addition in corner kicks and set pieces—his goal against Morelia came after a header.
7. Richard Ortiz (Toluca)
14 of 20
Richard Ortiz missed Matchday 1, but he made an amazing comeback against Chiapas.
The Paraguayan put the ball away twice at Estadio Nemesio Diez to help Diablos Rojos in the 3-0 victory versus Jaguares.
Despite being a natural central midfielder, Ortiz has a lot to offer when it comes to joining the attacking zone, especially in set pieces, due to his gifted left foot.
The last time he put the ball away was in the 2013 Apertura tournament.
6. Jesus Molina (Santos Laguna)
15 of 20
Jesus Molina left America after three and a half years (seven tournaments) to join Santos Laguna, a team that's going through a restructure after some of their key men left the team in the past 12 months (Oribe Peralta and Darwin Quintero to name a few).
Molina quickly grabbed the starting position, and his response to coach Pedro Caixinha's trust was to score a couple of times in January.
It might not seem like a lot, but take into consideration that Molina is not a striker and that he hadn't put the ball away since the 2013 Apertura tournament.
5. Ismael Sosa (UNAM)
16 of 20
UNAM haven't had a great season so far. They have a 1-2-1 record, and despite it all, Ismael Sosa has proven to be on the right track.
Sosa signed for Pumas a year ago and has since netted 10 times, three of those in the 2015 Clausura. Moreover, he has secured three goals of the five UNAM have so far.
Last season, he appeared 19 times and put the ball away five times, his best record so far.
Sosa is slowly showing that he has what it takes to be the top scorer on the team.
4. Aviles Hurtado (Chiapas)
17 of 20
Aviles Hurtado returned to Chiapas for the 2015 Clausura after spending six months on a loan with Pachuca.
The Colombian is making sure Jaguares know he is a valuable asset. So far, Hurtado has put the ball away three times in four games.
The striker knows how to put together his speed and strength to deliver power and explosiveness to the attacking zone, a combination that his other teammates haven't provided yet.
Hurtado is just getting started. He will surely become the man to follow in Chiapas.
3. Gabriel Hauche (Tijuana)
18 of 20
Gabriel Hauche left Racing to play for Tijuana, and he is adjusting beautifully to the team.
So far, the Argentine has two assists and two goals to his count, all of them instrumental in helping Xolos secure three successive wins in four matchdays.
Huache's form has nothing to do with luck. Last season he appeared 14 times with La Academia, he scored five times and made three assists.
So far he has been an undisputed starter, although he has only completed two of them.
2. Julio Furch (Veracruz)
19 of 20
Julio Furch is another new player in the Liga MX, and he is getting noticed.
Previously playing for Argentine club Atletico Belgrano, Furch scored a brace against Puebla on Matchday 2, which was also his debut game. Overall, he has netted three times.
Furch is a powerful forward who can shoot from outside the box or at close range. His fine touch allows him to pass the ball accurately, but also to make a difference in the score easily.
The Argentine has a three-year contract with Tiburones Rojos.
1. Dayro Moreno (Tijuana)
20 of 20
When Dario Benedetto left Tijuana, Dayro Moreno stood up.
The Colombian has taken over the responsibility of leading Xolos' attacking zone, and he has done it in style.
Moreno is the top scorer of the 2015 Clausura after scoring four goals in four games, becoming an instrumental footballer in Tijuana's success thus far; the team sits first in the general table.
The last time he scored more than four goals was in his first season in the Liga MX, as he put the ball away five times in 12 appearances.
All stats appear courtesy of ESPN FC and MedioTiempo.com, unless otherwise noted.
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