Who are the 10 best Mexican soccer players of all time?

Who are the 10 best Mexican soccer players of all time?

Grace Waruguru
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:27 PM

Football fans have been eager to discover the best Mexican soccer players. These individuals have made significant career strides in the World Cup and Premier League and are flying high in various positions. Read on and discover who these players are.

best Mexican soccer players
Jorge Campos before the FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017 Group A match between Portugal and Mexico at Kazan Arena on June 18, 2017, in Kazan, Russia. Photo: Michael Regan
Source: Getty Images

Did you know that soccer is the second-most popular game in Mexico? The Mexican national team is also known as El Tri, thanks to the three colours on the country's flag, red, white, and green. So, who are the best Mexican soccer players?

Best Mexican soccer players in 2023

These renowned players have set and broken records that have put them at the top of their game. Unfortunately, some passed away, and others are retired. However, they left an impressive legacy in the football scene. Here is a list of the best Mexican footballers:

1. Hugo Sanchez

  • Full name: Hugo Sánchez Márquez
  • Nicknames: Hugol, Pentapichichi
  • Date of birth: July 11, 1958
  • Age: 64 years as of March 2023
  • Zodiac sign: Cancer

Hugo Sanchez is considered one of the best Mexican soccer players in Europe and has the highest number of goals. He is a former player and manager who played with the San Diego Sockers, Atletico Madrid, and Real Madrid. He also played for Mexico and represented the country in three World Cups.

best Mexican soccer players 2023
Hugo Sanchez during the La Liga Santander match between Real Betis Sevilla v Atletico Madrid at the Estadio Benito Villamarin on March 6, 2022, in Sevilla, Spain. Photo: David S. Bustamante
Source: Getty Images

Sanchez is a five-time Pichichi award, four of which were with Real Madrid. The player was named CONCACAF's (Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football) best Player of the Century and is one of Real Madrid's greatest players of all time.

2. Rafael Marquez

  • Full name: Rafael Márquez
  • Nickname: Rafa, El Káiser
  • Date of birth: February 13, 1979
  • Age: 44 years as of 2023
  • Zodiac sign: Aquarius

Rafael is one of the best Mexican soccer players in the World Cup who served as the captain of the Mexican National Team during five World Cups. He is recognized as the best defender in Mexican football history.

Marquez is the third-most capped player in the history of the Mexican national team, boasting 147 throughout his career. Additionally, he is the Mexican player with the most World Cup matches played (19).

3. Jorge Campos

best Mexican soccer players in Europe
Jorge Campos of Mexico poses after an interview at The Diplomat Radisson BLU Hotel on May 10, 2017, in Manama, Bahrain. Photo: Alexander Hassenstein
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Jorge Campos Navarrete
  • Nicknames: El Brody, Chiqui-Campos
  • Date of birth: October 15, 1966
  • Age: 56 years old
  • Zodiac sign: Libra

Campos is one of the best Mexican soccer players of all time and is acknowledged as the best Mexican goalkeeper in history and his generation. Jorges is remembered for his colourful playing attire and leaping skills.

The former goalkeeper was also an impeccable striker, scoring 35 goals throughout his career. He played for clubs like Atlante, Tigres, and Puebla. As a national team member, he featured in three World Cups, two Confederation Cups, two Gold Cups and three Copas América championships.

4. Cuauhtémoc Blanco

  • Full name: Cuauhtémoc Blanco Bravo
  • Nickname: Temo, Cuauh
  • Date of birth: January 17, 1973
  • Age: 50 years as of 2023
  • Zodiac sign: Capricorn
best Mexican soccer players FIFA 23
Former soccer player Cuauhtemoc Blanco during Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's final event of the 2018 Presidential Campaign at Azteca Stadium on June 27, 2018. Photo: Carlos Tischler
Source: Getty Images

Blanco is a former footballer turned politician. He played as a forward and attacking midfielder and was also a renowned penalty taker. Cuauhtemoc is the second all-time scorer of El Tri, with 39 goals.

He played with Club America for 12 seasons. Later, he relocated to the United States of America, where he played with the Chicago Fire for three seasons. Now serving as the Governor of Morelos, Blanco holds a Silver Ball and a Silver Boot.

5. Horacio Casarin

  • Full name: Horacio Casarín Garcilazo
  • Date of birth: May 25, 1918
  • Date of death: April 10, 2005
  • Last team: CF Monterrey

Horacio Casarín Garcilazo was a Mexican professional football player who passed away in 2005. Despite his death, he is still regarded as one of the best Mexican soccer players today. He gained massive popularity in the 1940s and 1950s.

best Mexican soccer players today
Antonio Carbajal (Left) talks to Joao Havelange (R), the former FIFA President, ahead of the 1998 Soccer World Cup in Paris, France, 6 June 1998. Photo: Achim Scheidemann
Source: Getty Images

He played for several teams as a forward, including Necaxa, Leon, Asturias, Barcelona FC and the Mexico national team. Towards the end of his career, Horacio suffered severe injuries that kept him out of the field for about two years. He retired from professional football in 1950 with 256 goals in his career.

6. Antonio Carbajal

  • Full name: Antonio Félix Carbajal Rodríguez
  • Nicknames: Tota, El Cinco Copas
  • Date of birth: June 7, 1929
  • Age: 93 years old as of 2023
  • Zodiac sign: Gemini

Antonio is a former goalkeeper who played for the Mexican national team as a goalkeeper. Thanks to his incredible performance, he is still regarded as one of the best Mexican FIFA soccer players in 2023. Carbajal was the first player to feature in five World Cups (1950, 1954, 1958, 1962, and 1966).

The player was ranked 15th among the best goalkeepers of the century per the IFFHS (International Federation of Football History & Statistics). Besides the national team, Antonio only played for two clubs, Real Club Espana and Leon. He is the only Mexican player who received the FIFA Order of Merit.

7. Louis Hernandez

best Mexican soccer players of all time
Rafael Marquez during the Club Friendly match between FC Barcelona v Pumas at the Spotify Camp Nou on August 7, 2022, in Barcelona, Spain. Photo: David S. Bustamante
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Luis Arturo Hernández Carreón
  • Nickname: El Matador
  • Date of birth: December 22, 1968
  • Age: 54 years old as of 2023
  • Zodiac sign: Libra

Louis is among the best Mexican soccer players who played as a striker and is one of the top scorers of the national team and in the World Cup. The gifted player played for Cruz Azul in his debut season and first participated in the World Cup in 1998.

Hernandez first played in the international scene in 1995. However, his break into the limelight came in 1997 when he scored six goals at Copa America. He also played as a substitute in the 2002 FIFA World Cup before his last international performance in June.

8. Jared Borgetti

best Mexican soccer player in the World Cup
Jared Borgetti during the final match between Santos and Pachuca of the Verano Tournament 2001 at Corona Stadium on May 20, 2001, in Torreon, Mexico. Photo: Mario Castillo
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Jared Francisco Borgetti Echavarría
  • Nickname: El Zorro del Desierto, The Desert Fox
  • Date of birth: August 14, 1973
  • Age: 49 years as of 2023
  • Zodiac sign: Leo

Jared was the first Mexican footballer in the Premier League. His career lasted 11 years, and he scored 252 goals. He held the El Tri top scorer position for a long time until Chicharito surpassed him.

Borgetti now works as a commentator for ESPN Deportes and ESPN Mexico. He is also an all-time scorer for the Mexican national team, with a count of 46. Some teams he played for include Atlas, Santos Laguna, and Bolton Wanderers.

9. Salvador Reyes

best Mexican soccer players
Mexico's leading scorer in Copa America, Luis Hernandez, walks off the field after his team won and reached the semi-finals on June 22, 1997. Photo: Matthew Ashton
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Salvador Reyes Monteón
  • Date of birth: September 20, 1936
  • Date of death: December 29, 2012
  • Last team: Guadalajara

Salvador was born in 1936 but died in December 2012. He played for Guadalajara as a forward and had a goal count of 122 goals in seven championships. He participated in three World Cups (1958, 1962, and 1966).

10. Carlos Hermosillo

  • Full name: Carlos Manuel Hermosillo Goytortúa
  • Nickname: El Grandote de Cerro Azul
  • Date of birth: August 24, 1964
  • Age: 58 years old as of 2023
  • Zodiac sign: Virgo
best Mexican soccer players 2023
Carlos Hermosillo attends the 2018 Latin American Music Awards at Dolby Theatre on October 25, 2018, in Hollywood, California. Photo: Leon Bennett
Source: Getty Images

Carlos Hermosillo, also known as ''The big tall one from Cerro Azul,'' is the player who scored more goals in the local tournament and the second-highest all-time goals. He played for the Mexican national team and teams like America, Monterrey, and Guadalajara. Additionally, Carlos is the third-best scorer of El Tri.

These Mexican soccer players have set high standards for upcoming players in their home country and worldwide. Curious fans will be keen to see who sets new records as new talent arises.

READ ALSO: Top 20 players with the most red cards in football history

Sportsbrief published an article discussing footballers who have received the most red cards in football history. Red and yellow cards are given due to an offence committed on the pitch. Who are the players with the highest number?

Gerardo Bedoya tops the list with a count of 46 red cards. He is followed by Cyril Rool, a former French footballer with 25 cards. Check out the link above for the comprehensive list of red card holders.

Authors
Grace Waruguru photo
Grace Waruguru
Grace has over 4 years of experience in article writing and digital media content creation for various local and global brands. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication (Public Relations) from Daystar University, Kenya.