The clock is quickly ticking for numerous Mexican players. With slightly over a month left until FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Costa Rica and Trinidad and Tobago, El Tri manager Juan Carlos Osorio will soon need to hone down his best roster options.
While the likes of Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez, Guillermo Ochoa and other Mexicans in Europe are close to guaranteeing their spots, others back in Liga MX will need to continue to fight for a much-desired opportunity.
Keeping this in mind, let's take a look at some of the recent best and worst performances from Mexicans at home and abroad.
Warming Up
Jose Juan Vazquez, MF, Chivas (Mexico)
Why he's here: Vazquez proved to be highly valuable for Chivas in Saturday's 1-0 win over America in the Clasico Nacional. The midfielder was superb with his countless passes and prevented an early goal from Las Aguilas through a perfectly timed intervention.
What this means: After months of sporadic starts, Vazquez has finally earned a starting role with Chivas in 2017. Although Mexico is packed with midfield options, a return to the national team might be around the corner for the 28-year-old who is finding a second wind.
Jesus Corona, FW, Porto (Portugal)
Why he's here: Last Friday, Corona was one of the more exciting players on the pitch during Porto's 4-0 victory against Tondela. The Mexico international was threatening with his movement on the right wing, dangerous crosses and insightful passes in attack.
What this means: Following confident performances in the past few weeks, Corona is set to be a key player for Porto in the upcoming Champions League match against Juventus on Wednesday. As seen in his last Champions League performance, which included a goal and assist against Leicester in December, the winger loves to stand out in big games.
Javier Hernandez, FW, Bayer Leverkusen (Germany)
Why he's here: Hernandez was on fire for Bayer Leverkusen last Friday. Thanks to his two goals, the striker led his team to a 3-1 win over Augsburg. The Mexico international now has five goals in his last three matches.
What this means: Keep an eye on "Chicharito" in the Champions League game against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday. Taking on Atletico's defense will be no easy task, but the striker will head into the game with plenty of momentum.
Gael Sandoval, MF, Santos Laguna (Mexico)
Why he's here: Since late January, Sandoval has become a set-piece master for Santos Laguna thanks to his well-timed crosses. In Saturday's 2-2 draw with Leon, the 21-year-old clinched his fourth assist in his last four games.
What this means: The youngster will need time to develop his skills before getting a call-up for Mexico in the near future. That said, Osorio might want to keep the player on his radar for July's Gold Cup roster.
Cooling Down
Marco Bueno, FW, Monterrey (Mexico)
Why he's here: Bueno has rarely seen the pitch for Monterrey, getting a meager tally of 39 minutes this season. For Saturday's 1-0 win over Pachuca, the striker was left out of Los Rayados' gameday roster.
What this means: Despite his promising talents, the 22-year-old is far from returning to the national team. Nearly two years after his debut for El Tri, Bueno still has plenty of work to do before earning another call-up.
Jose Antonio Rodriguez, GK, Leon (Mexico)
Why he's here: Rodriguez has now officially gone over a year without a start in a league match. The goalkeeper, who recently made the move to Leon, was left on the bench during Saturday's draw with Santos Laguna.
What this means: When the 24-year-old first arrived to Leon over the winter, many wondered if he would be able to steal William Yarbrough's starting spot in net. Nearly two months into the season, it's become clear that the 2012 Olympic Gold medal winner is currently a backup.
Jesus Isijara, FW, Necaxa (Mexico)
Why he's here: After an impressive 2016 Apertura, Isijara has struggled to recreate the same magic in the current Clausura. During last Saturday's 4-1 loss to Necaxa, the winger remained fairly quiet in attack for Los Rayos.
What this means: A few months ago, the 27-year-old looked like one of the most underrated Mexicans in the league. Now, the Necaxa player is once again drifting into obscurity after a disappointing start to the season.
Oribe Peralta, FW, America (Mexico)
Why he's here: Goalscoring problems continue for Peralta. Although it must be noted that America went down to 10 men in the Clasico Nacional defeat by Chivas, the striker failed to have much of an impact in the rivalry match. Peralta has now gone five games in a row without a goal.
What this means: Is 2017 the year that the veteran loses his relevance to the national team? The 33-year-old has been massively important to his club and country in the past, but has recently shown very little for El Tri and America fans to be excited about.