When Mexico takes on the United States on November 11th, they'll likely include a number of the young up-and-coming talents they have coming through the ranks in their squad and they'll have even more that couldn't crack the team this time around. Here are 13 of Mexico's best and brightest hopes for the future.
This content is subject to copyright. AFP/Getty Images
Candido Ramirez
23-year-old attacking midfielder Candido Ramirez got his first cap for El Tri this year, but he's been doing it for Mexico's various youth teams for years. A Monterrey player since 2014, Ramirez is currently on loan at Atlas where he has three goals in 11 apperances so far.
LatinContent LatinContent/Getty Images
Angel Zaldivar
Angel Zaldivar also earned his first full international cap this year, making the jump up from the Mexico U-23s. The 22-year-old Guadalajara-born attacker has played for his hometown club of Chivas since 2013, making 58 appearances and scoring nine goals in that time.
This content is subject to copyright. AFP/Getty Images
Rodolfo Pizarro
A Pachuca man from youth team to first team, versatile midfielder Rodolfo Pizarro has six caps for Mexico. He became a regular for Pachuca's first team in 2012, making his debut for Mexico in 2014. Since then, the 22-year-old has bounced between the U-23s and the full team, earning a spot in the 2015 CONCACAF Men’s Olympic Qualifying Championship Best XI.
This content is subject to copyright. AFP/Getty Images
Jordan Silva
Another of Mexico's 2016 debutantes, towering center defender Jordan Silva was a fixture in the Mexico U-23s before earning a call-up to the full team for the first time this year. A regular for Toluca, the 22-year-old Silva was also part of the squad that helped Mexico to qualify for the 2016 Olympics.
This content is subject to copyright. AFP/Getty Images
Erick Gutierrez
21-year-old Erick Gutierrez joined Pachuca's youth ranks at the age of 12, and he's been at the club ever since. The central midfielder earned his first-team debut in 2013, and has been a regular for Los Tuzos in 2014. He never made an appearance for any of Mexico's teams till the U-20s, and made his full national team debut in 2016 against Senegal.
This content is subject to copyright. AFP/Getty Images
Erick Torres
“Cubo” Torres is one of MLS's own, first playing for Chivas Guadalajara, then moving to Chivas USA on loan, scoring 22 goals in 44 matches. The Houston Dynamo signed him from there, then loaned him back to Chivas Guadalajara and then to Cruz Azul where he remains on loan today. An MLS record-breaker, Torres is MLS's all-time Mexican-born scoring leader. He's got four caps with the national team since his debut in 2014, but is now 23 and needs to find his form again.
This content is subject to copyright. AFP/Getty Images
Jurgen Damm
23-year-old winger Jurgen Damm not only has a fantastic name, he's got unbelievable speed as well, and is, according to FIFA, one of the paciest players in the world. Damm became a professional in 2012 at the age of 18, joining Estudiantes Tecos. He left for Pachuca a year later, making 67 appearances for the club. Despite being eligible for Germany through his paternal grandfather, Damm was called up by Mexico and made his national team debut in March of 2015, turning down several European offers to join Tigres just a couple months later. He's been at the club ever since, but Europe will come calling again.
LatinContent LatinContent/Getty Images
Cesar Montes
Still uncapped by the senior team, 19-year-old Cesar Montes is nonetheless one of the brightest talents in Mexico's deep crop of youngsters. A tall, athletic defender, Montes made his senior debut for Monterrey in 2015, and he's been a fixture in the team ever since. He was a starter in every match for Mexico's Olympic team, and will likely be part of the senior team in the near future.
LatinContent LatinContent/Getty Images
Arturo Gonzalez
A fixture in Mexico's youth teams since the U-17s, 22-year-old versatile attacking midfielder Arturo “Ponchito” Gonzalez came through the youth ranks at Atlas, becoming a star for the first team before moving to Monterrey in 2016. He earned his first call-up to the full national team in 2014 while at Atlas, and has made three appearances for El Tri in his career.
LatinContent LatinContent/Getty Images
Jesus "Tecatito" Corona
One of Mexico's brightest young talents, 23-year-old Porto winger Jesus “Tecatito” Corona has struggled to find playing time with the Dragons this season, but his talent is undeniable. He's got 25 caps and six goals for El Tri, and that number will likely only go up as he continues to improve. He's already a star and only figures to get better.
Gualter Fatia Getty Images
Carlos Salcedo
23-year-old central defender Carlos Salcedo started his senior career at Real Salt Lake as a home grown player, staying in Utah for two seasons before signing with Chivas Guadalajara in 2015. He became a fixture in the side, and earned a call-up to the full national team, before Fiorentina took him on loan with the option to buy if he impressed the Viola management. He's got five caps for El Tri, has become a regular for Fiorentina, with six Serie A appearances already this season.
This content is subject to copyright. AFP/Getty Images
Orbelin Pineda
A Queretaro youth player, Orbelin Pineda made his name at the club at the senior level before moving on to Chivas at the beginning of this season. Just 20 years old, Pineda made his debut this year and has already picked up three caps for Mexico's full team. The future looks bright for the little center-midfielder.
This content is subject to copyright. AFP/Getty Images
Hirving Lozano
Last, but certainly not least, hopes are high for 21-year-old Hirving Lozano. A talented and technical winger, Lozano came through the Pachuca youth ranks, making his full debut for the senior team in 2014. He hasn't looked back since, making 102 appearances and scoring 28 goals for the team. The last year and a half have been a whirlwind for Lozano, first making his debut for the Mexico U-20s in 2015, then the U-22s, then making the Olympic team, before earning his first cap for the full national squad this year. He's now made 10 appearances for El Tri, and looks like he'll be one of the cornerstones for their squad for years to come.
This content is subject to copyright. AFP/Getty Images
