Imagine a world where Chelsea FC is owned by a shady billionaire who is probably involved in organized crime. Wait, that world already exists? OK, imagine that, but instead of a Russian oil baron the shady bilionaire is a Mexican drug trafficker. I am referring here to Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, the boss of the Sinaloa Cartel who was arrested last week.
In early 2014, it seemed Alan Pulido had the world at his feet. Pulido had capped his finest club season to date, scoring 24 goals in 40 appearances for Tigres, with a goal in the 2014 Copa MX Final. UANL would go on to defeat Oaxaca 3-0, capturing their third Copa MX overall and their first since the 1995/96 season.
A week earlier, he scored the tying goal in a friendly against the United States in Glendale, Arizona. This was his fourth goal for El Tri, adding to the debut hat trick he’d scored against South Korea in January.
Real Sociedad has had a gem in their midst since 2011. A gem that Arsene Wenger failed to recognize at Premier League giants, Arsenal. Carlos Vela has had a tumultuous professional career thus far. He’s been one of Mexico’s shining lights in Europe ever since he finished top-scorer in Mexico’s U-17 World Cup win back in 2007. That light has dimmed every once and a while and most recently has been shining bright at Real Sociedad. The Cancun native has had 167 appearances for Sociedad and has scored 59 goals since his loan from Arsenal became permanent at the La Liga side.
It’s been a good season for Miguel Layun, and Layun's top ten goals prove it. The El Tri star has been a staple of the national team and has also been on fire for his club team, Porto. Most recently assisting in the 5-0 thrashing of Boavista to keep the Dragons 4 points within striking distance of 1st place Sporting. The 27-year-old is traditionally a left-back by trade but no one would blame soccer fans if you all confused him for a winger. His ability to make drives down the wings have paid dividends for Porto and Mexico.
Hector Herrera and Jesus "Tecatito" Corona both had objectively good games for Porto Sunday, each scoring a golazo for the Portuguese club in a 5-0 win over Boavista n the Premeira Liga.
Some might say that both players' accomplishments should be celebrated, and then be left at that. We think otherwise. Everything is a competition, so we needed to figure out which goal was better.
First, let's look at Hector Herrera's goal. Finishes don't come much more intricate and precise than this.
Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez is having a career year since leaving Manchester United/Real Madrid for Bayer Leverkusen. The Mexican striker has 19 goals in 22 games so far this season, and has been named the Bundesliga player of the month twice, in November and December.
Related: Chicharito Won Bundesliga Player Of The Month...Again
Porto were mostly a dud Wednesday, drawing 1-1 with beatable Rio Ave side in the Premeira Liga, but at least they got this Hector Herrera golazo to soften the disappointment.
Check out this goal from #FCPorto's Hector Herrera against Rio Ave. Not bad skill!! pic.twitter.com/7fjFlHQflI
Benfica obliterated Maritimo Wednesday, winning 6-0 in the Premeira Liga match. One of the six goals was scored by 24-year-old Mexican forward Raul Jimenez, and another was assisted by him.
Raul Jimenez makes it 3-0 for Benfica pic.twitter.com/Vzz3I43mKo
— Mexicanfut (@mexicanfutcom) January 6, 2016
Bayer Leverkusen are in Florida right now during the Bundesliga's winter break (it gets a little too cold for soccer right around now in Germany) for a friendly tournament called the Florida Cup and, unsurprisingly, Leverkusen striker Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez is attracting a lot of attention from fans.
Players like Bryan Ruiz, Clint Dempsey, Javier Hernandez and Dwayne De Rosario (recently retired) have been leading their respective countries attacks for years now. With the 2018 World Cup qualifiers underway, these young forwards, aged 24 and under, will be looking to make massive contributions on the road to Russia.
So, how do the forwards stack up against each other? Which CONCACAF nation has the most promising goal scorer? Don't let your allegiance and bias cloud your judgement...or do. We won't stop you.