The Mexican team closed its participation in this World Cup, in which it managed to excite its fans after closing the group stage undefeated, with three games won and with the goal at zero. Against Ecuador he gave perhaps his best game in the round of 32, but ended up losing to the England team in a match full of emotions that will remain in the memory of the fans.

Once El Tri's time in the 2026 World Cup is over, we evaluate man by man the squad led by Javier Aguirre and its performance in this tournament.

Goalkeepers

Raúl Rangel (Chivas)He had one of the most complicated challenges in this third process: consolidating himself in goal even with the presence of Guillermo Ochoa and after the injury of Miguel Ángel Malagón. While it is true that he managed to keep a clean sheet in four consecutive games, it must also be said that he was not as demanding as other goalkeepers. In the game against England he was responsible for committing the penalty that ended up making the difference on the scoreboard. Rating: 8

Guillermo Ochoa (AEL Limassol) A historic player retires not only from the Mexican team, but from football in general, beyond the criticism of the last years of his career. Ochoa had the opportunity to say goodbye to his people at the Azteca Stadium and, in the few minutes he played against Czechia, he did not clash and even contributed to the play that would end up sentencing the victory of the Mexican squad. Rating: 7.5

Defenses

Johan Vásquez (Genoa)Of the Mexican center backs he was the one with the best performance. He seems more mature and forceful on the routes, taking the role of leader behind. Due to his age (27 years old) he can still reach the next World Cup and could do so at a better level if he can make the jump to a more competitive club. Rating: 8

César Montes (Lokomotiv Moscow) One of the players who was most in charge. In the opening match he was sent off and for the decisive round of 16 match he had to leave at halftime because he physically couldn't do it anymore. It remains to be seen if he will be considered by Rafael Márquez for the next World Cup cycle. Rating: 6.5

Israel Reyes (America) We saw little of him and in the minutes he had he delivered. The doubt will remain whether in the last game he could have contributed something more on the wing, but in the end the Mexican coach decided on other options to send the centers to the opposite area.Rating 6.5

Jesús Gallardo (Toluca) The Toluca player made 12 appearances in World Cups and generally had a good tournament, but the last 40 minutes of the round of 16 match, in which he was ineffective and lacked imagination to send crosses or hit from medium distance, caused his rating to drop. Rating: 7

Mateo Chávez (AZ Alkmaar) 'Tiloncito' needed minutes. In the match against Czechia, in addition to opening the scoring, he distributed the game well and left a good feeling. We would have liked to see him play more; He has a promising future and playing in a European league is helping him improve his level. Rating: 8

Jorge Sánchez (PAOK of Thessaloniki)For tastes, colors. He was one of the weakest members of the team in this World Cup, although he had some sparks and earned the starting job after the opening match. He lacked quality and was overwhelmed in the game against Thomas Tuchel's squad. Rating: 6.5

Edson Álvarez (Fenerbahce) was not eligible for this World Cup. His role as a group leader is understood, but his physical condition did not accompany him. Perhaps we have seen the last minutes of the “Machin” in the national team and unfortunately, Mexico suffered from not having the best version of a player who currently cannot even be indisputable in the Turkish league. Rating: 5

Midfielders

Gilberto Mora (Tijuana)Together with Julián Quiñones, the highlight of this selection. Mora will return to Tijuana just to pick up his things and prepare his suitcases to go to Europe. True, he made specific mistakes in the game against England, but in general he was the player who surprised the most. He has a promising future and we can only hope that he has a career that consolidates what we saw from him when he was just 17 years old. Rating: 9

Brian Gutiérrez (Chivas)Regular. Although he excelled in the first games, he began to deflate and, especially in the last game, he gave the impression that he entered out of rhythm with respect to what the Mexican national squad needed, even when he was the target of the penalty that meant the final 2-3. Rating: 7

Álvaro Fidalgo (Betis)He proved to be a good trigger and was encouraged to hit him from outside the area when he had the opportunity. As fate would have it, he had to celebrate a goal in the stadium where he brought so much joy to América, but the fact that he did not have more minutes left him dissatisfied with not having had the level to establish himself as a starter. Rating: 7

Érik Lira (Cruz Azul)Surely he will also be one of the Mexican teams that make the leap abroad once this World Cup ends. Mordelón in the middle of the field and playing face to face with the rivals he had to face, which even earned him praise from figures like Jude Bellingham, the executioner of the Tricolor..Rating: 8

Obed Vargas (Atlético de Madrid)Another one we are left wanting to see more of. He played a total of 66 minutes in this World Cup, always coming on as a substitute and providing mobility and good play. We have to wait for him to gain continuity at Atlético de Madrid and consolidate himself for the next cycle. Rating: 7.5

Forwards

Raúl Jiménez (Wolverhampton)He is in the 'top 3' of the players on this team. Not only because of the goals (three) that were finally given to him, but because of the partnership he achieved with Quiñones, which was one of the best this squad had. Good for the Mexican striker to whom the game owed revenge. Rating: 8.5

Guillermo Martínez (Pumas)He got on board more because of a decision by the coach than because of his football level and he did not take advantage of it. Aguirre was very clear when pointing out that he was wearing it to fight for height against the Czech Republic and wanted to use that resource against England, who were already playing with 10, but the reality is that it turned out to be ineffective. Rating: 4

Santiago Giménez (AC Milan)The great disappointment of this World Cup. 'Bebote' had a terrible season in his club and in the same way that in Qatar 2022 he was missing in the national team call, in 2026 he was superfluous. It remains to be seen if he can turn the helm in his career, but at least in this tournament he delivered little or nothing. Rating: 3

Julián Quiñones (Al Qadisiya)The best player on this team beyond his four goals. The naturalized Mexican Colombian showed that he is in a great moment and that it is not for nothing that he is the scoring champion of a league that has players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema. Aguirre respected the position by playing on the left and entering towards the center to join Jiménez, and made a difference. We are still looking for an explanation as to why it came out at the end of the most important match. Rating: 9

César Huerta (Anderlecht) 'Chino' arrived very justly after an injury that cost him most of the season. Despite being one of the last players to join the concentration, we were able to see him form a group and take advantage of the few minutes he was able to play in the game against South Korea, but without major significance. Rating: 4

Roberto Alvarado (Chivas) 'Piojo' had a good World Cup. He played, perhaps, the best minutes of his career in the first four games of this tournament, including outstanding ball recovery efforts. His only problem was that, at the moment when he was needed most, towards the end of the game against England, he forgot how to shoot a cross as accurate as the ones he sent even in the first half of that same game. Rating: 8

Those who saw few or no minutes