Mexican Players Abroad

This Chicharito goal vs Brighton is one to remember. Sadly for West Ham, it was not nearly enough as they lost 3-1 against the Seagulls in English Premier League action on Saturday. 

Hector Moreno made a big move from PSV in the Dutch Eredivisie to AS Roma in Italy’s Serie A over the summer. The veteran of two World Cups with Mexico appeared to be preparing for the 2018 World Cup by moving to one of the top leagues for defenders in the world. However, after appearing just six times in the first half of the season, a Hector Moreno Real Sociedad move was completed on Wednesday on transfer deadline day. 

After weeks of speculation linking Mexican international Miguel Layun with La Liga side Real Betis — where international compatriot Andres Guardado currently plays — derby rival Sevilla has announced the capture of the 29-year-old right back on loan with an option to buy in the summer, pending a medical scheduled for Tuesday.

On as a 64th minute substitute for West Ham in their Premier League match against Bournemouth on Saturday, Mexico international Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez scored the equalizer for the Hammers in a 1-1 draw at London Stadium.

In 29-year-old Mexican midfielder/right back Efrain Juarez, the Vancouver Whitecaps have acquired one of the greatest prospective films of all-time. Like any great movie, Juarez’s story starts at the beginning. 

The native of Mexico City won the 2005 U-17 World Championship with El Tri (alongside the likes of Giovani dos Santos and Carlos Vela) while on the books at Pumas, facilitating an ill-fated stint with Barcelona’s B team. He then resurrected his young career by returning to Mexico to play for Pumas, helping his club to the 2009 Clausura championship.

FC Porto defeated Moreirense 2-1 in the Taca de Portugal (the country’s premier knockout competition) with Mexico internationals Hector Herrera and Miguel Layun providing the goals. Porto haven’t won the Cup since 2011, but they’ll now play fierce rivals Sporting CP in a Dragões vs Leões semifinal. 

Herrera scored the game’s opening goal in the eighth minute after a fine run from Tiquinho. The midfielder applied the finish with a lovely dink over the keeper. 

Aged 31, Mexico international Andres Guardado recently told FIFA.com that he now prides himself more on bringing “balance to the team” rather than being the “box-to-box player” of old, so the Real Betis midfielder is probably less than pleased with the club’s defensive record this season — they’ve allowed 34 goals in 18 matches, third-worst in La Liga.

UEFA, you may be a bit late to the party. The European soccer governing body released a list of 50 players to watch in 2018 on Friday, an index of rising stars who could become household names in the coming calendar year. By naming Mexico’s Hirving Lozano one to watch, UEFA is basically admitting it didn’t pay attention to the last half of 2017, when Chucky tore up the Eredivisie with first-place PSV Eindhoven.

It’s hardly a surprise for anyone that FIFA named Hirving ‘Chucky’ Lozano as one of the top ten young soccer players of the year. Having scored 11 goals in 16 matches playing for Dutch club PSV Eindhoven, the 22 year-old Mexican international is off to a blistering start to his European career.

In January, Carlos Vela will leave Real Sociedad for Los Angeles FC to prepare for the upcoming MLS season. Vela, who has been at Real Sociedad since 2011, made his final appearance for the Spanish club Wednesday. 

In the 90th minute, Vela capped off an excellent career with one last goal. Did he kiss the badge? Of course he kissed the badge.