The Liga MX versus MLS All-Star game was set to be played on July 29, 2020. We take a look at our 2020 Liga MX All-Star Team.
This match against the MLS was unprecedented in terms of Liga MX since they have never fielded an All-Star team. This would also allow for bragging rights to arise to which league is better since there seems to be an increased debate on the competitiveness among the leagues. This would also lead to an increase in debate among Liga MX fans, something that there doesn’t seem to be enough of.
This debate would be centered around who got into the team and who got left out. Liga MX is an ultra-competitive league with each star on each team having a legitimate argument for their inclusion on the All-Star Team. Nonetheless, the decision has to be made and after much deliberation, these are the names worthy to be on the Liga MX All-Star Team.
GoalKeepers
Guillermo Ochoa (America), Jonathan Orozco (Santos), Nicolas Vikonis (Puebla)
The goalkeeper’s selection sees two obvious choices and a surprise. Since Guillermo Ochoa has arrived back in Mexico his performances have been nothing short from amazing. It is clear to see he still in the upper echelon of Mexican goalkeepers. Jonathan Orozco has to be included due to consistency. Week in and week out he provides stellar performances and not to mention his consistent call ups to the Mexican National Team. If Orozco didn’t have to develop alongside the likes of Ochoa and Jesus Corona it is highly likely he would have been Mexico’s starting goalkeeper for a number of years.
The surprise inclusion is Nicolas Vikonis from Puebla. Many may not watch Puebla games but I suggest you watch ten to fifteen minutes of any random game and tell me who stands out on Puebla’s side. More than likely it will be goalkeeper Nicolas Vikonis. Many times he saves Puebla from going down further in the scoreline and was the MVP of the team for the large majority of this past Clausura season. Vikonis is Liga MX’s most underrated goalkeeper since his arrival in 2018.
Defenders
Luis Romo (Cruz Azul), Bruno Valdez (America), Hiram Mier (Chivas), Nicolas Sanchez (Monterrey), Alan Mozo (Pumas), Gerardo Arteaga (Santos), Matheus Doria (Santos), Luis Rodriguez (Tigres)
The obvious selections here are Bruno Valdez, Nicolas Sanchez, Gerardo Arteaga, and Luis Rodriguez. The inclusion of Luis Romo is important since he is coming off an emphatic debut season with Cruz Azul where he showed his versatility playing as a center back and as a holding midfielder at times. When Hiram Mier joined Chivas it was seen as questionable move. After the first year at the club, the move now seems to be a disaster due to him not being able to stay healthy.
Even after these tumultuous circumstances, Mier has seen himself able to recover his form that once had him selected to the national team consecutively. Mier has slowly become one of the more consistent centers back in Mexico. This is the same case for Matheus Doria who week in and week out serves as the backbone of the Santos backline. He is another one of the players who are heavily underrated simply because his team doesn’t have as much exposure as the big clubs. The inclusion of Alan Mozo and Gerardo Arteaga is noteworthy since they are two promising Mexican wingbacks who project to be in Europe in a couple of years. There may be older international wingbacks that deserve to be on this team but I believe Liga MX goes for the Mexican talent on this one to showcase that Liga MX can still produce homegrown talent.
Midfield
Fernando Beltran (Chivas), Luis Montes (Leon), Jorge Hernandez (Pachuca), Brian Lozano (Santos), Guido Pizzaro (Tigres), Leo Fernandez (Toluca)
The no debate additions to the team are Luis Montes and Guido Pizzaro. Two players who year after year showcase why they are the best that Liga MX has to offer. Fernando Beltran from Chivas has been a revelation so far this early in his career. A player who shows extreme poise on the field and who projects to be a foundational block for Mexican soccer in the years to come. Jorge Hernandez is one of those players who again is underrated.
A staple for Pachuca with quality performances every weekend Hernandez is one of those players who had the tough luck to be in the same generation as Hector Herrera and Andres Guardado. Brian Lozano and Leo Fernandez are two Uruguayan players who immediately made their presence felt in Liga MX. They are players who simply have excess quality and anytime they have the ball at their feet the opposing defense senses a danger only players of that quality can inflict.
Attackers
Mauro Quiroga (Necaxa), Jonathan Rodriguez (Cruz Azul), Jose Juan Macias (Chivas), Angel Mena (Leon), Andre Gignac (Tigres)
Mauro Quiroga is again one of those players who suffer from not playing at a club who gets more exposure. Nonetheless, his name is always in the top five goalscorers week in and week out. Quiroga’s inclusion isn’t much of a debate since anyone who follows Liga MX closely knows that he is one of the top five strikers in the league. Jonathan Rodriguez had a slow start with Cruz Azul but came into his own in the Clausura 2020. Rodriguez became the point man for La Maquina and showed why Cruz Azul paid a hefty amount for his services. Jose Juan Macias from Chivas is the future of the Mexican National Team. Macias is a young player who already possesses many of the qualities you want to see from a season forward.
It is only a matter of time before he is playing in Europe. For the time being though, he is a no debate inclusion on the Liga MX All-Star team. Angel Mena is one of the most consistent forward in Liga MX. Mena serves as the catalyst for Leon’s attack providing quality runs behind the defense and possessing a killer instinct in front of the goal. The last striker to be discussed is of course Andre Pierre Gignac. Since Gignac has arrived in Mexico he has become Tigres all-time goalscorer and revolutionized Liga MX as a whole. For the Liga MX All-Star roster, Andre Gignac would serve as the captain.
Who deserves to be in your 2020 Liga MX All-Star Team?