Javier Hernández and the Top 20 Mexican Footballers on the Planet

Mexico has been passionate about soccer for decades. The national team has been the most successful squad of Concacaf and has produced quite talented footballers.

Nowadays, Mexico has a new generation of players who have showed their abilities, despite being youngsters; others have become veterans and provide experience and balance to a sport that absorbs over 100 million Mexicans.

Aldo De Nigris

This 28-year-old striker has played for Monterrey since 2008. Prior to becoming a Rayado, he wore other jerseys: Necaxa, Veracruz and Tigres.

Aldo De Nigris is a very strong but fast player who knows how to beat the defense. In the Mexican League he has scored 48 goals.

His first cap for the national team came in February, 2010. Since then he has scored six times and won the Concacaf Gold Cup earlier this year.

Andrés Guardado

El Principito debuted at age 18 with Atlas, a Guadalajara-based team. Andrés appeared 64 times with Los Zorros and scored six times.

After becoming a key player on the midfield, Deportivo La Coruña bought him for €5.25 million, becoming the most expensive Mexican player in history.

Two of his specialties are speed and fine touch, which have set him apart as one of the most unpredictable Mexican players.

He's still playing for Depor, but in the Second Division.

Ángel Reyna

Reyna has been on the radar since the Bicentenario 2010 tournament, after Salvador Cabañas was attacked at a bar in Mexico City.

Ángel made his debut at Primera División with San Luis (2004-2007); he scored 11 goals. Then he was loaned to Necaxa for two tournaments, but only manged to score three times.

Finally, he had a shot with America at Clausura 2009, but at Bicentenario 2010 he played 18 games and scored 10 goals, before becoming goal-scoring champion in Apertura 2011.

His physical attributes have helped him become the key striker of América and led him to debut at Mexico's national football team in 2010, when Javier Aguirre managed the team.

José Manuel Chepo de la Torre also called him for two friendly matches and the 2011 Gold Cup. 

Carlos Salcido

He's one of the most experienced Mexican players on the planet, after playing a Confederations Cup, a Copa América, two World Cups and two Gold Cups.

He debuted with Chivas de Guadalajara in 2001, and after 109 matches and two goals, he left to the Netherlands to play with PSV Eindhoven, where he spent five years. He left to Fulham in 2010 for a €1.6 million deal. 

During his time in Europe, Salcido became stronger, quicker, but more importantly, a vital backup for the offense, making runs all through the touchline and distributing the ball to his teammates.

He took his abilities back to Mexico and currently plays for Tigres of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nuevo León.

With El Tri he has played 95 times and scored six goals since his debut in 2004.

Christian Bermúdez

Named the Hobbit for his short stature (5'2''), Bermúdez has played in the Primera División since 2006 with the same team: Atlante.

At age 24 he has already played at a U-20 World Cup in 2007, and has showed skills both as a midfielder and a striker.

During his time with Atlante, Christian has played 12 local tournaments, one Concacaf Champions League and a InterLiga, for a total of 28 goals.

Efraín Juárez

Juárez is a 23-year-old who has been playing in Europe since last year. 

He debuted with Pumas and after a good performance at the 2010 World Cup, several clubs got interested in him. At the end, it was the Celtic, from the Scottish Premier League that paid £3 million to take him.

Efraín didn't play much, he had 21 appearances and a couple of goals, before Javier Aguirre, who debuted him with El Tri, asked the management of Real Zaragoza to land a deal with the player's team.
That's how he got to La Liga, where he has played seven matches and scored once.

Juárez has shown fine technique when it comes to taking free kicks and speed if the team needs to unbalance the defense.

Francisco Javier Rodríguez

Maza has become one of the most valuable defenders, thanks to his high stature (6'3'') and muscular frame. At age 30, he's one of the standard bearers of Mexican football.

He made his debut with Chivas de Guadalajara in 2002, but it was not until four years later that he became a key player, and Ricardo Lavolpe took him to the 2006 World Cup.

In 2008 he left Chivas to join Carlos Salcido at PSV Eindhoven. However, he didn't have much success in his first season, but in 2009 he played in 29 games in the local league and scored once. The following year he was as active as the previous one.

In 2011, Maza left the Netherlands and joined German VfB Sttutgart and has played nine times so far.

With El Tri, Rodríguez has played 63 times and scored one goal. He has also represented Mexico in the 2010 World Cup, the 2004 Olympics as well as the 2005 and 2011 Gold Cups.

Francisco Palencia

He's 38 years old, but still in great shape. Palencia started playing with Cruz Azul at age 21. Three years later the team won the local championship. 

He spent seven years there before leaving to Spain in 2001. Despite his proven talents, Francisco only played with Espanyol one season before returning to Cruz Azul.

El Gatillero left to Chivas de Guadalajara, where he spent two years; then he went to Chivas USA, becoming one of the first Mexican players to join an MLS team.

But Francisco's destiny was in Mexico and he became a member of Pumas in 2007. That same year he returned to El Tri after three years of absence.

He became the leader of Pumas, not only for his experience but for his passion on the field. This led him to play several games at the 2010 World Cup qualification, but didn't make it to the final team.

Nonetheless, Pumas won the Clausura 2009 and Clausura 2011; in the latter he scored in both legs.

Palencia has worn the Mexican jersey 80 times and scored 12 goals; he played two World Cups, three Copas América and two Confederations Cups.

Gerardo Torrado

Torrado is the boss of the midfield; he owns it and shows it with strength and toughness.

He debuted in Mexico with Pumas in 1997, but his talents led him to Spain, where he played from 2000 to 2005 for Tenerife, Polideportivo Ejido, Sevilla and Racing de Santander.

While in Spain, Manuel Lapuente called him to represent Mexico at the Confederations Cup. In that tournament he scored his first goal with El Tri and began a successful stage of his career.

After spending five years in Europe, he joined Cruz Azul and became the captain of the squad.

He's one of the few footballers that have been consistent with El Tri, having played for Manuel Lapuente, Enrique Meza, Hugo Sánchez, Javier Aguirre, Ricardo Lavolpe, Sven-Göran Eriksson, Efraín Flores and José Manuel de la Torre.

Torrado is tough and fights for every ball; he distributes and coordinates tactical plays, but also has a unique and fine touch.

He is either captain or vice-captain of the Mexican national football team.

Giovani Dos Santos

Since his debut at the Under-17 FIFA World Cup, he has raised expectations.

He won the Silver Ball in that event and went back to Spain to play with Barcelona B. After one season he debuted with Barça's first team.

Tottenham Hotspur decided to make a bid and took him to London. Dos Santos had to fight for a place on the team, which didn't happen, so the Spurs lent him to Ipswich Town, then to Galatasaray and finally to Racing de Santander.

Meanwhile, Gio took advantage of the games he played for El Tri, showing that even when he didn't appear regularly with the clubs he had been with, he still had the technique, touch and creativity that characterized him at age 17.

At the 2009 Gold Cup he scored two goals and was named Most Valuable Player. A year later he made it to the World Cup.

His most recent achievement with the national team came at the 2011 Gold Cup where he scored three times, one of them in the final match against USA, which was later selected by Concacaf as the best goal of the tournament.

Guillermo Ochoa

Paco Memo has been considered by the fans as the best Mexican goalkeeper. He currently plays for France's Ajaccio.

He made his debut at América when he was 19 years old and quickly became a figure of the team. 
He's 6'1'' and has great reflexes, which have helped him become a world-class goalie, despite his young age.

Ochoa traveled to the 2006 and 2010 World Cups but didn't play. Nonetheless, he has appeared 47 times with El Tri, including the 2007 Copa América and Gold Cup.

Héctor Moreno

The world first met Moreno at the 2005 U-17 FIFA World Cup, where Mexico claimed its first world title.

He debuted with Pumas that same year and stayed there for two years before AZ Alkmaar bought him.

During his time with the Dutch club he improved his technique and strengthened, becoming a key player for the squad.

Moreno spent four seasons with AZ, won a Dutch championship, a Dutch Super Cup and scored six times.

Despite signing a contract extension, he left to Spain to play for Espanyol, where he's played six games and scored once.

With El Tri he has played 28 times, including a couple of games at the 2010 World Cup and the latest Gold Cup.

Moreno is a center-back that hardly ever attacks, but defends like few players.

Javier Hernández

He's by far the best Mexican player nowadays. Chicharito became the first fellow countryman to really succeed at the English Premier League.

He scored 20 goals in his debut season, including four at the UEFA Champions League, tying Luis García's record as the Mexican with most goals in his first year in Europe.

Javier won the Premier League title with Manchester United, played the Champions League final against Barcelona and grabbed the MVP awarded by the fans.

He came as a substitute and earned the starting position due to his productivity, having scored in key matches, often with just a few minutes left.

Chicharito has also become a very important player for El Tri, having played in three games at the 2010 World Cup and scoring twice. Now, with Jose Manuel Chepo de la Torre as the manager, he has played in every match he has been called.

He has appeared a total of 31 times with Mexico's national football team and scored 22 goals. His velocity and sense of goal have set him as one of the greatest.

Luis Michel

Michel may not be the tallest goalkeeper (5'10'') but he certainly know how to jump and attack the ball.

He's not as young as Guillermo Ochoa, but at age 32 he's showing his best performances.

He debuted at Santos Laguna, after Chivas de Guadalajara's management loaned him. Unfortunately, Luis only played twice before returning to his original team in 2006.

He was shadowed by Oswaldo Sánchez, one of Mexico's greatest goalies, but when he left to Santos, Michel was appointed as the starting keeper.

Ever since, he has made quite an impression and has played for El Tri 10 times including the 2011 Copa América.

Luis Pérez

Lucho started his professional career at Necaxa in 1999. As part of Los Rayos, he appeared in 116 matches and scored 13 times, but more importantly, he evolved into one of the best midfielders.

In 2003 he left to Rayados de Monterrey, where he currently plays, along with Aldo de Nigris. Luis has won three local titles and a Concacaf Champions League with this team.

Some of his attributes include speed and precise touch; add creativity to those abilities and you'll have one of the most balanced players in the local league.

Pérez has worn the Mexican jersey 67 times and scored eight goals.

Marco Fabián

He's only 22 years old but has already proven he's on track to become an idol. Marco Fabián is a powerful forward with creativity and velocity.

He debuted at age 18 with Chivas de Guadalajara, where he started his amateur career as a little kid.

Marco has been a regular since 2008, but it was two years later that he showed his real potential.

At Apertura 2010 he scored six times; then he went to increase his personal best by three at the Clausura 2010.

This year, at the Apertura, he's managed to send the ball to the end of the next six times, with 13 matches played.

Fabián has also appeared with the Mexican national team in three opportunities, having scored once.

Oribe Peralta

At age 27, Peralta has played for Monarcas Morelia, Rayados de Monterrey, Santos Laguna and Jaguares de Chiapas, the latter on loan.

After almost eight years, he has finally consolidated as a key striker for Santos and, lately, for El Tri.

Peralta tends to move quickly, leaving the defense hanging and seeking for open spots inside the goal area; he's very powerful when striking the ball with the head.

He has scored 34 goals through his Primera División career, but this has been his most successful season and currently sits as the leading scorer of the Apertura 2011.

Pablo Barrera

Dinamita is one of the most unbalancing Mexican footballers, especially when he runs along the touchline and then cuts in seeking spaces.

He debuted at age 18 with Pumas, but it was in his fifth season when he shined, playing 31 times and scoring 14 goals.

His brilliant performance at the 2010 World Cup took him to West Ham United where he appeared on 23 occasions before leaving to Real Zaragoza, where he plays along with Efraín Juárez.

Pablo debuted with El Tri in 2009 at the Gold Cup, which the team won. He repeated in the latest edition, scoring twice in the final match against USA.

Rafael Márquez

Rafa is 32 years old, but has had quite an stellar career.

He debuted at Atlas de Guadalajara and after just three years he left to Europe to play for AS Monaco.

His impeccable style landed him a deal with Barcelona, but didn't earn the starting position until his second season. From that point on, Márquez's career would be full of success.

He went to win titles in La Liga (four), Supercopa de España (three), UEFA Champions League (two), Copa del Rey (one), UEFA Super Cup (one) and FIFA Club World Cup (one).

He placed himself as one of the best defenders in the world and took his expertise to the Mexican national team.

He's represented El Tri 109 times and scored 12 goals, including three World Cups and two Gold Cups. Rafa has been the captain of the squad since he played for Barça, thus becoming the leader.

He currently plays for New York Red Bulls, having played 28 matches and scoring once.

According to The New York Times, Márquez assured he might play the 2014 World Cup.

Ricardo Osorio

Osorio debuted with Cruz Azul at age 21 and even when he had an irregular season, he managed to secure a spot on the team for 2002.

His first real shot came in 2005, when Mexico played the Confederations Cup. Ricardo showed his skills as a defender, but his attacking abilities surprised even more.

At the 2006 World Cup he delighted several European clubs, but it was VfB Stuttgart that offered him a deal which neither him nor Cruz Azul could let pass.

During his four years in Germany, he played 101 games and scored once; he also won the Bundesliga.

He was harshly criticized after the Round of 16, where Mexico faced Argentina. He committed a serious error which resulted in the rival's second goal.

After the incident he went back to Mexico and currently plays for Rayados de Monterrey, along with de Nigris and Pérez.

Despite being 31 years old, Osorio still shows his strength and discipline on and off the field and is one of the best defenders.