Mexico is traditionally viewed as a footballing powerhouse. When it comes to Mexico football best player, the North American nation has produced several players who have shone on the world stage. Legends like Hugo Sanchez and Rafael Marquez made their mark as some of the best Mexican football players of all time. The current generation is no less. Players like Raul Jimenez and Edson Alvarez are some of the best Mexican football players currently.
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Top 10 Best Mexican Football Players (Currently Ranked)

Mexico recently lifted the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup and underlined their credentials as the best side on the continent. With the 2026 World Cup coming up in the United States, they are expected to make a deep run and make a statement. Mexico best football player often have to step up and perform for their country again.
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List of Best Mexican Footballers (2025)
2025 has been a fruitful year for the El-Tri. They lifted the CONCACAF Gold Cup as well as the CONCACAF Nations League. With the squad seeing extreme success, some players from the squad naturally became the best Mexican footballers. The list of best Mexican football players is a brilliant mix of youth, players in their prime and veterans ageing like fine wine.
Rank | Player Name | Age | Position | Total International Caps |
10 | Santiago Gimenez | 24 | Striker | 42 |
9 | Johan Vasquez | 26 | Centre-back | 36 |
8 | Roberto Alvarado | 26 | Right-winger | 59 |
7 | Marcel Ruiz | 24 | Midfielder | 8 |
6 | Gilberto Mora | 16 | Midfielder | 5 |
5 | Jesus Gallardo | 30 | Left-back | 111 |
4 | Cesar Montes | 28 | Centre-back | 60 |
3 | Alexis Vega | 27 | Left-wing | 45 |
2 | Edson Alvarez | 27 | Midfield | 93 |
1 | Raul Jimenez | 34 | Striker | 119 |
How We Ranked Mexico Best Football Player?
A successful run at two different competitions needs contributions from every player in the team. In that regard, the best Mexican footballers had backing from the entire squad. However, to pick Mexico best football player, we used the following ranking factors to separate them.
– International Caps
Since all the players almost had an equal number of games this season, we took their overall experience into account. Players who have been doing it for the national team for years got priority. The best football player in Mexico must currently have high caps for the national team.
– Impact in big international matches
To become Mexico best football player, they need to make the best impact in big matches. Scoring winners, assisting key goals, and making game-changing tackles will certainly help their case.
– Average Rating in National Team Competitions
In the age of stats, football became much more than goals and assists. Every action counts now as the players’ ratings consider everything. It is also an indicator of consistent performance over time.
Who is the Best Football Player in Mexico in 2025?
Now onto the hunt for Mexico best football player, we dive through some of the most exciting players in the country today. As they say, all parts are important in a well-oiled machine, thus players from all three thirds of the pitch appear in our list of Mexico best football player.
10. Santiago Gimenez (Striker)

The AC Milan striker is 10th on the list now, but make no mistake, he will be the best football player in Mexico very soon. Gimenez is an exciting striker who excels at centre-forward play. He can bring his teammates into play and has a range of finishes in his locker room. The new year has been successful for him as he sealed a move to one of the elite European teams in AC Milan.
On the international front, he is restricted to a super-sub role thanks to Raul Jimenez’s superb performances. Once Jimenez calls it a day, Gimenez will be there to take over. Until then, he can keep providing the value off the bench as his side gears up for the FIFA World Cup.
Total National apps in 2025 | Goals | Assists | Avg. Rating |
8 | 1 | 1 | 6.5 |
9. Johan Vasquez (Centre-back)

Reaching his prime years, Vasquez is an established player for club and country. He left Mexico as a 22-year-old and earned a place in the heart of Genoa’s defence. His breakthrough at club level rewarded him with a permanent place in his country’s backline as well. Vasquez has taken the chance well and never looks out of place.
Although he is not the quickest in the world, he matches strikers stride for stride thanks to his good defensive positioning. He is in the top 80th percentile of aerial duels this season and always looks to pump the ball forward, playing incisive passes. His strong showing helped Mexico win the Gold Cup.
Total National apps in 2025 | Goals | Assists | Avg. Rating |
5 | 0 | 1 | 7.5 |
8. Roberto Alvarado (Right-winger)

Sometimes you just feel stats aren’t everything while analysing football players. A player can set the pitch on fire with dribbling and chance creation and end up with zero assists or goals. That’s exactly what’s happened with Roberto Alvarado at the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Alvardo accumulated a total of 1.5 xG and 1.5 xA at the tournament to end up with no returns. However, his team felt no burden as his 9 successful dribbles and seven chances created throughout helped them open up defences. Even in the final against the United States, he came close to scoring.
Total National apps in 2025 | Goals | Assists | Avg. Rating |
8 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
7. Marcel Ruiz (Midfielder)

The 24-year-old formed a formidable midfield duo alongside Edson Alvarez. He often protected the defence alone when Alvarez ventured forward. Ruiz was an exciting talent whose breakthrough was carefully monitored from a young age. As expected, he earned a place amongst the best Mexican footballers as soon as he came into his own.
After missing out on their first game against the Dominican Republic, he was a key starter in all the remaining games. His ability to break counters and recover the ball helped his side’s cause. He is also a proficient ball player, and it came to the fore when he assisted Raul Jimenez with a throughball for their equaliser in the final.
Total National apps in 2025 | Goals | Assists | Avg. Rating |
7 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
6. Gilberto Mora (Midfielder)

They say if you are good enough, you are old enough. The 16-year-old Gilberto Mora proves this saying and made waves at the Gold Cup with his impressive performances. The wonderkid played for the Under-20 side as a 15-year-old and quickly made his senior debut. He also became their youngest ever debutant and played a key role in the final.
Mora is a technical player who is versatile, strong on the ball and has an excellent eye for a killer pass. After starting the league games on the bench, he found himself as a starter for the knockouts. He produced a game-winning assist in the Gold Cup semis with a razor-sharp through pass for Jimenez, showcasing his quality. His maturity at just 16 makes him one of the best Mexican footballers currently. We predict him to become Mexico best football player very soon.
Total National apps in 2025 | Goals | Assists | Avg. Rating |
5 | 0 | 1 | 7.5 |
5. Jesus Gallardo (Left-back)

Jesus Gallardo has more than a century of appearances for his country and is a tried and tested player at left-back. The veteran left-back rolled the clock back to have a vintage Gold Cup tournament. He imbibed the traits of a modern-day full-back to have a greater impact in the final third. His experience of playing as a wide midfielder earlier in his career helped his cause.
He was a key part of the defence that conceded just three goals at the tournament. His attacking instincts take nothing away from his defensive skill, which lets him lock up wingers who dare to take him on. He is a reliable option on the ball as he plays out from the back so often.
Total National apps in 2025 | Goals | Assists | Avg. Rating |
8 | 0 | 1 | 7.3 |
4. Cesar Montes (Centre-back)

Now moving on to Mexico best football player in the attack at the Gold Cup, we arrive at Cesar Montes. Well, we just described a centre-back in attack, and that is what Montes is all about. The defender has a knack for scoring crucial goals and was their joint highest scorer in the tournament.
He scored against the Dominican Republic in a 3-2 win and a sensational brace against Suriname as they won the game 2-0. Pitching in the attack didn’t take anything from his defensive game. He is an aggressive tackler who lunges into forwards and suffocates them. His stellar box defending in the finals made him a key player as El Tri lifted the cup.
Total National apps in 2025 | Goals | Assists | Avg. Rating |
7 | 3 | 0 | 7.7 |
3. Alexis Vega (Left-winger)

The 29-year-old had a highly successful club season with Deportivo Toluca. After registering career-best goals and assists, Vega translated that form into the Mexican shirt. In the 2024/25 Clausura, he had 13 goals from an xG of 7.24. He peels wide and delivers devastating crosses to open up defences.
He is a set-piece master and found Montes with a perfect cross for one of his goals in the Suriname game at the Gold Cup. He rose to the occasion and scored one of the two goals against Saudi Arabia in the quarters. Another inspired showing against the USA in the finals earned him great laurels.
Total National apps in 2025 | Goals | Assists | Avg. Rating |
10 | 1 | 2 | 7.5 |
2. Edson Alvarez (Midfielder)

The West Ham United midfielder was easily Mexico best football player at the Gold Cup. Despite having a lukewarm season with the Hammers in the Premier League, he turned up differently for El Tri at the Gold Cup. He had the freedom to roam the pitch and appear wherever the need arose for them.
However, he made defence his priority as he screened the defence with aplomb. His long reach allowed him to win a lot of tackles he attempted. Winning the ball back was also one of his strengths. When he did the defensive job well, he found the time to venture forward. He scored the winner from a corner in the finals to cement his status as one of the best Mexican footballers currently.
Total National apps in 2025 | Goals | Assists | Avg. Rating |
8 | 2 | 1 | 7.5 |
1. Raul Jimenez (Striker)

You will never run out of words to describe Jimenez’s importance to Mexico. The veteran striker breached the 10-goal mark in the Premier League again after a horrific skull injury that kept him out of football for so long. He was on a mission to lead his Mexico side to glory and did so to become the best football player in Mexico.
Raul Jimenez scored the equaliser in the finals after receiving a through ball and the key late winner in the semis. This followed his goal in the opener against the Dominican Republic. This helped him cement his legacy as one of the best players for his country. With the FIFA World Cup coming soon, he would be desperate to continue his form as Mexico best football player and lead his side to glory.
Total National apps in 2025 | Goals | Assists | Avg. Rating |
8 | 3 | 0 | 7 |
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