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Why doesn’t Mexico produce world class players?

Posted on 3/25/24 at 9:40 am
Posted by Boodis Man
Member since Sep 2020
4480 posts
Posted on 3/25/24 at 9:40 am
Population of 130 million and soccer is the most popular sport in that country. Why aren’t they on the same level as, let’s say, Argentina?
Posted by Dawgsontop34
Member since Jun 2014
42474 posts
Posted on 3/25/24 at 9:48 am to
I've talked to some people from Mexico about this, and I feel like most of them have talked about how political things are with their national team and how $ is such a big qualifier for needing to get to the highest level. Instead of trying to find the best talent, they care about getting as much $ as possible.

I don't know exactly how true that is, but it's what people from Mexico told me.
Posted by Glorious
Mobile
Member since Aug 2014
24458 posts
Posted on 3/25/24 at 10:55 am to
World Football’s Biggest Underachievers-Youtube

This guy has a good video about the many factors. His narration is a bit annoying though
Posted by GeauxLSUGeaux
1 room down from Erin Andrews
Member since May 2004
23291 posts
Posted on 3/25/24 at 11:15 am to
A lot of it has to do with demographics. Louisiana loves football but we don’t churn out a lot of high level Linemen because on average we are a lot shorter than the rest of the country. The bulk of Mexicos main native population is a lot shorter than Argentinas mainly European population.
Posted by saderade
America's City
Member since Jul 2005
25730 posts
Posted on 3/25/24 at 11:33 am to
Honestly I don’t think they have the athletes. The average Mexican is pretty short and not overly athletic. All the training in the world won’t overcome genetics. And on top of that their academy system seems to be kind of a mess.
Posted by OldmanBeasley
Charlotte
Member since Jun 2014
9677 posts
Posted on 3/25/24 at 12:12 pm to
Mexican clubs also make it very difficult for their players to move to Europe.
Posted by theGarnetWay
Washington, D.C.
Member since Mar 2010
25850 posts
Posted on 3/25/24 at 12:15 pm to
quote:

The average Mexican is pretty short and not overly athletic


I mean, what do you think the average American looks like?
Posted by Boodis Man
Member since Sep 2020
4480 posts
Posted on 3/25/24 at 12:59 pm to
I disagree with those saying it’s genetics or demographics. The reality is, you do not need to be tall to be world class in soccer unlike other sports. You also don’t need to be athletic, just fit from a cardio perspective. Those things are great assets to have but its skill that makes the difference in this sport
Posted by TeddyPadillac
Member since Dec 2010
25455 posts
Posted on 3/25/24 at 1:15 pm to
quote:

A lot of it has to do with demographics. Louisiana loves football but we don’t churn out a lot of high level Linemen because on average we are a lot shorter than the rest of the country. The bulk of Mexicos main native population is a lot shorter than Argentinas mainly European population.



I'm not disagreeing that Mexicans are typically shorter than others. It's no secret the Mayans were short.
But Messi is 5'7" and Maradona was shorter than him.

It's one thing to not have a great national team b/c it's hard to produce big center backs.
But they simply don't typcially produce world class soccer players. You can go through their best players of all time, and there won't be that many that have gone over to Europe to be successful for a good club there.

I'd bet you can find more guys from Colombia and Venezuala that have gone on to play succesfully in Europe than you can for Mexico, and Mexico has twice as many people as they do combined, and their demographics are similar.
Posted by saderade
America's City
Member since Jul 2005
25730 posts
Posted on 3/25/24 at 1:30 pm to
quote:

I mean, what do you think the average American looks like?
The average American athlete is bigger, stronger and the average Mexican athlete. Same could be said for all the other traditional soccer powers. Do Mexicans excel in any other sports?
Posted by SlowFlowPro
Simple Solutions to Complex Probs
Member since Jan 2004
421771 posts
Posted on 3/25/24 at 2:21 pm to
They were a lot better in the past but have developed a cult-like obsession with Liga MX where that is the most important part of Mexican soccer.
Posted by SlowFlowPro
Simple Solutions to Complex Probs
Member since Jan 2004
421771 posts
Posted on 3/25/24 at 2:23 pm to
quote:

I'd bet you can find more guys from Colombia and Venezuala that have gone on to play succesfully in Europe than you can for Mexico, and Mexico has twice as many people as they do combined, and their demographics are similar.

Colombia/Venezuela have a lot more African ancestry than Mexico. Not really comparable demos
Posted by S
RIP Wayde
Member since Jan 2007
155424 posts
Posted on 3/25/24 at 2:25 pm to


Melvin Brown GOAT

dude randomly had like a 90 overall rating in fifa 03

Marquez and Torrado and maybe Lozano come to mind.
Posted by Broski
Member since Jun 2011
70789 posts
Posted on 3/25/24 at 3:08 pm to
The answer is Liga MX having too much control over the FMF.

Mexico's top prospect right now is Marcelo Flores and instead of letting him develop at Arsenal, Tigres overpaid for him to come to Liga MX which will undoubtedly stunt his growth.

It's fun to watch them implode from their arrogance, but at the same time, we kinda need Mexico to keep up a little bit and level up. For our own development, we need someone to be able to at least threaten us in CONCACAF without having to play a 5-4-1.
This post was edited on 3/25/24 at 3:09 pm
Posted by SirWinston
PNW
Member since Jul 2014
81377 posts
Posted on 3/25/24 at 4:56 pm to
They are very unathletic. Their bodies default to a pear shape. Mexicans have more of a grind it out, be persistent, bring your lunch pail type mentality.
This post was edited on 3/25/24 at 4:57 pm
Posted by ohiovol
Member since Jan 2010
20828 posts
Posted on 3/26/24 at 7:46 am to
quote:

They are very unathletic. Their bodies default to a pear shape. Mexicans have more of a grind it out, be persistent, bring your lunch pail type mentality.


Do you actually watch soccer?
Posted by RemouladeSawce
Uranus
Member since Sep 2008
13914 posts
Posted on 3/26/24 at 8:56 am to
quote:

I don’t think they have the athletes
Absolute nonsense

The GOAT isn’t even that athletic. His “speed” is pure technique
Posted by SlowFlowPro
Simple Solutions to Complex Probs
Member since Jan 2004
421771 posts
Posted on 3/26/24 at 11:56 am to
quote:

The GOAT isn’t even that athletic.


laughs in Ronaldo

(either one)
Posted by cwil177
Baton Rouge
Member since Jun 2011
28423 posts
Posted on 3/26/24 at 12:34 pm to
quote:

Mexico's top prospect right now is Marcelo Flores

A born and raised Canadian
Posted by Broski
Member since Jun 2011
70789 posts
Posted on 3/26/24 at 2:31 pm to
quote:

A born and raised Canadian



And that's the other issue.

Their youth devel has been arse for quite some time, which is why the Guardado generation stayed in power as long as it did. So even if they wanted to start pushing more guys to Europe, it's not like clubs in top leagues are beating down the doors for a bunch of meh talent.

They need an overhaul, but that's also like a 10-year process. Honestly, their best hope for change in the immediacy is winning recruiting battles for guys we developed.
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