Can resilient captain Edson Álvarez lead Mexico to the elusive World Cup quarterfinals? - BERITAJA

Mexican midfielder Edson Álvarez underwent room connected his near ankle aft getting injured during a lucifer pinch his nine team, Fenerbahce, past February. It kept him sidelined from some his Turkish squad and the Mexican nationalist team.

At times, his information successful this summer’s World Cup was successful jeopardy.

But acknowledgment to his resilience, Álvarez will beryllium Mexico’s skipper arsenic he plays successful his 3rd World Cup. He is 1 of the cardinal leaders of coach Javier Aguirre’s squad that will purpose to scope astatine slightest the quarterfinals — a feat that has eluded El Tri successful the past 8 World Cups.

“It’s been a very engaged fewer months for me, pinch the full wounded issue, but I’ve ever believed this and said it publicly: I’m a patient believer that everything that happens successful our lives happens for a reason,” Álvarez said. “So, I besides dedicated this clip to myself to proceed increasing arsenic a shot subordinate and arsenic a person.”

Mexico defender Edson Álvarez dribbles during a friends against Australia connected May 30 astatine the Rose Bowl.

(Kyusung Gong / Ap Photo/kyusung Gong)

Álvarez made his World Cup debut successful Russia successful 2018 astatine 20, the youngest subordinate connected the roster, competing successful each of Mexico’s matches. Four years later successful Qatar, he played 2 matches and was stranded connected the chair by Mexico’s coach astatine the time, Gerardo Martino, against eventual champion Argentina.

Álvarez, known arsenic “El Machín” for his tenacity and courageousness connected the field, endeared himself to fans for his activity disconnected the section past summer.

The Mexican team, including Aguirre and officials, remained silent up of the Gold Cup played successful the United States arsenic migration raids and wide deportations took spot passim the country. Southern California, a cardinal marketplace for El Tri, was among the first areas inundated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations.

Additionally, President Trump deployed 2,000 National Guard troops to bolster the migration agencies swarming the area.

While Aguirre and squad officials avoided questions, Álvarez posted connected societal media: “I want to nonstop a connection of respect and solidarity to each the Latino families successful Los Angeles who are facing difficult times today, and particularly to my Mexican people. I respect your courage, your difficult work, and your determination to get ahead. We guidelines pinch you. Don’t suffer faith.”

Álvarez has learned really to support his religion successful an array of adverse circumstances.

Mexico midfielder Edson Álvarez covers his ears arsenic he celebrates scoring against the U.S. during the 2025 Golden Cup last successful Houston.

(Ashley Landis / Associated Press)

Early on, he faced extended disapproval for his performances. When he played for Ajax, he was criticized for his “poor shot handling and unorthodox style” by legends specified arsenic Wesley Sneijder, who called him “the worst protect subordinate successful the Dutch league.” Álvarez kept moving and recovered himself among the players pinch the about minutes logged astatine Ajax, winning the Eredivisie successful 2020-21 and 2021-22 arsenic good arsenic the KNVB Cup successful 2020-21.

After joining West Ham United, he earned the respect of caller Chelsea FC head Xabi Alonso, who described Álvarez arsenic a “key” subordinate for the English club, noting that he was “good connected the ball, fierce successful recovery, likes to get into the aerial and besides has bully shot control.” Alonso could prosecute signing Álvarez, whose nine profession is successful request of stability.

The 28-year-old conscionable ended his stint pinch Fenerbahce, which acquired him connected loan. His tenure was difficult arsenic injuries prevented him from establishing consistency. West Ham was relegated from the Premier League to the EFL Championship successful precocious May, truthful the World Cup will beryllium important arsenic Álvarez seeks amended nine opportunities successful Europe.

His communicative reflects the challenges galore Mexican players knowledgeable up of the World Cup, fighting to rebound from injuries and constricted playing time.

Santi Giménez, a guardant for AC Milan, isn’t joining Mexico’s World Cup roster astatine his peak, having undergone room successful December 2025 and been sidelined for much than 4 months earlier returning to the section successful mid-March. Mexico mislaid starting goalkeeper Luis Malagón and midfielder Marcel Ruiz, who didn’t retrieve from injuries successful clip to play successful the World Cup.

Regardless of the obstacles, Mexican players will look the unit to execute good arsenic a World Cup big federation and will count connected their fans to beryllium their about formidable ally.

Mexico players airs for a squad photograph earlier a friends connected May 30 astatine the Rose Bowl.

(Kyusung Gong / Ap Photo/kyusung Gong)

“That affirmative energy, successful the end, is contagious. It will swipe disconnected connected each of us. The fans are for illustration our 12th subordinate — and the about important one,” said Álvarez, a three-time Gold Cup victor and CONCACAF Nations League champion.

Mexico opens the World Cup against South Africa connected June 11 astatine Estadio Azteca successful Mexico City, past faces South Korea connected June 18 astatine Estadio Akron successful Guadalajara. El Tri closes retired the group shape against the Czech Republic connected June 24 successful the Mexican capital.

When asked about the team’s World Cup goals, Mexico’s skipper was cautious but ambitious. In a tourney that for the first clip will characteristic 48 teams, Mexico’s situation remains astatine slightest reaching the elusive quarterfinals.

“Clearly, the extremity is ever successful our minds: to scope the knockout stages pinch Mexico, to beryllium capable to compete,” Álvarez said. “… Obviously, that’s our dream and our desire, and we person a batch of religion and are eager to execute it.”

Mexico midfielder Edson Álvarez scores connected a header during the 2025 Gold Cup last successful Houston.

(Ashley Landis / Associated Press)

Despite not being capable to participate successful El Tri’s important matches against Portugal and Belgium during the World Cup mentation phase, Álvarez intimately followed his teammates’ performances, and what he saw near him emotion optimistic heading into the tournament. Mexico managed a scoreless tie against Portugal, considered 1 of the favorites, and a 1-1 tie against Belgium, a squad that thrashed the United States 5-2.

“It makes maine happy to spot really my teammates performed truthful good against 2 awesome teams, and that makes maine deliberation we could execute awesome things — that we person players pinch a positive, winning and fighting spirit,” he said.”I judge those are the values that specify america arsenic Mexicans. I’m besides excited to deliberation about the future, about being location connected opening time of the World Cup pinch thousands of Mexicans.”

Now, having go 1 of the about knowledgeable leaders connected the Mexican nationalist team, the autochthonal of Tlalnepantla de Baz has a clear connection he wants to convey to young teammates about to compete successful their first World Cup.

“It’s thing that happens each 4 years … bask it,” he said. “You’ve worked truthful hard, you’ve earned it connected the section and disconnected it arsenic well.”