Mexico has had a great crop of footballers throughout history. Many of them have represented El Tri in World Cups; others have found glory in the local league. From goalkeepers to strikers, being a national hero in a country that loves football as few do is not easy.
These five stars have managed to earn a prominent place in the annals of history, following analyses from experts at https://www.jackpotjill.live/en/.
5. Antonio Carbajal (1950-66, 48 caps, no goals)
It is fair to say that Antonio Carbajal had a baptism of fire on the international stage. His debut for Mexico came in the opening match of the 1950 World Cup as hosts Brazil ran riot with a 4-0 win at the Maracana. He was still tending El Tri’s goal 12 years later as Mexico won their first ever World Cup match, however, and in 1966 he became the first player in history to appear in five different World Cup tournaments. No player has yet toppled that mark, although Germany’s Lothar Matthaus did equal it in 1998.
In all, he played 48 times for his country over a 16-year international career, establishing himself as one of the finest goalkeepers Mexico has ever had. Indeed, IFFHS ranked him as the greatest Central and North American keeper of the 20th century and 15th in the world from the same period.
4. Jorge Campos (1991-2004, 130 caps, no goals)
Just edging out his compatriot to the title of the greatest goalkeeper in Mexico’s history is Jorge Campos, whose eccentric style and flamboyant kits made him an easily-recognizable figure in between the sticks. Campos was relatively short for a goalkeeper, standing at just 5’6″, but his athleticism more than made up for his stature and enabled him to make some remarkable saves. He also fancied himself as an outfield player, often coming out of his box to participate in moves and sometimes even being deployed as a striker.
He was a cornerstone of the Mexico side that won the 1999 Confederations Cup, while he also picked up the 1993 and 1996 Gold Cups for his country. His 130 caps encompassed two World Cup tournaments, with Campos featuring in both 1994 and 1998.
3. Cuauhtemoc Blanco (1995-2010, 119 caps, 39 goals)
Blanco was perhaps the most important member of Mexico’s 1999 Confederations Cup-winning side. He scored six goals in that tournament – including the winner against Brazil in the final – finishing as a joint-top scorer and being awarded the Silver Ball, making him the only Mexican player with an individual award in a major FIFA competition. He is now a lover of games from real money online casino.
Only Ronaldinho was deemed better than him in that tournament, and the Brazilian star is also the only man who can match Blanco’s record of nine Confederations Cup goals overall. His prowess in front of the goal extended to other international matters, with only Borgetti finding the back of the net more times for El Tri. A five-time MVP in the top flight of Mexican football, Blanco has also spent time in La Liga and the MLS during his club career. He is the only Mexican to have scored in three World Cup tournaments and is widely considered to be one of the greatest penalty takers of all time having missed just two of his 58 attempts from the spot.
2. Rafael Marquez (1997-2018, 147 caps, 17 goals)
Marquez played at four World Cup finals. He garnered 147 caps to his name in a 21-year international career that includes success in the 1999 Confederations Cup and two Gold Cup crowns.
It was at club level that the defender came to worldwide acclaim, however, enjoying distinguished spells with Monaco and Barcelona in particular. He won Ligue 1 with the former in 2000 before adding four La Liga titles to his trophy haul in Spain. His time in Catalonia also yielded a Copa del Rey and two Champions League titles, with Marquez becoming the first Mexican to lift the famous trophy when Barcelona beat Arsenal in the 2006 final.
1. Hugo Sanchez (1977-94, 58 caps, 29 goals)
By some distance, the greatest player in Mexico’s history, Hugo Sanchez was one of the world’s most feared strikers during his prolific career. After a successful stint in his native country, Sanchez was snapped up by Atletico Madrid and soon began establishing himself as La Liga’s top goalscorer. That was a reputation he solidified having made the short move across the city to Real Madrid, where he enjoyed the greatest years of his career. The striker won the Pichichi trophy – awarded to La Liga’s highest scorer – four years in a row, becoming the only player in the league’s history to achieve that feat without sharing the award. Considering the likes of Ronaldo, Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo have plied their trade in the top flight of Spanish football, it is a record of which Sanchez is justifiably proud.
He tied the league’s single-season record of 38 goals in the 1989-90 campaign, scoring every single one with just a single touch. During his time at the Bernabeu, Sanchez won five consecutive league titles, the UEFA Cup and another Copa del Rey to add to the one he picked up with Atletico. His international career was not quite as successful, although he still managed to appear in three World Cup tournaments for Mexico. The IFFHS named him the 26th-best player of the 20th century and the greatest from either Central or North America.
