The day that many doubted would ever come is here: Carlos Vela is back in a Mexico shirt. In his native country, pictures of Vela walking with the El Tri squad wearing the team colours were splashed all over the papers, providing evidence that people could verify with their own eyes.
At times, a photo of Vela in an El Tri shirt seemed as elusive and as likely as taking a snapshot of the Loch Ness monster. In lieu of actual facts, rumors and speculation ran about why a player who helped Mexico win its first FIFA tournament in 2005 with the under-17 squad would refuse to help the squad qualify for the World Cup tournament in 2014.
In many ways, the distinct fortunes of Vela and the Mexico national team in 2013 paved the way for his return. When Vela last played for El Tri in March 2011, his fortunes in Europe were floundering. He was on loan to West Bromwich Albion, and though he would score on occasion, he did not do so with the consistency that made becoming a regular with Arsenal likely. It was moving to Spain to play on loan with Real Sociedad that turned out to be an ideal situation for Vela. He thrived in La Liga, scoring 14 goals and providing nine assists during the 2012-13 season.
Meanwhile, Mexico's World Cup qualifying campaign was beginning to go sideways early in 2013. Draw after draw saw the team struggle mightily, as coach Jose "Chepo" de la Torre didn't seem able to inspire his players to better performances. While many El Tri fans might have shrugged off Vela's absence if the team had done well, it was all too easy for supporters to either hail him as possibly the savior of the squad or, at times, curse Vela as the reason for the team's downfall by merely staying away.
De la Torre's own pride and close ties to the national team establishment apparently made Vela even more wary of giving national team duties another chance.
It became an odd stalemate -- that even as Vela's star shone more brightly than ever in club play, his country was passing through perilous times. Instead of Vela being merely one of a corps of young and eager reinforcements, he had risen to the top of the player hierarchy with Mexico legend Hugo Sanchez calling Vela "Mexico's Messi."
Yet even with the arrival of new coach Miguel Herrera, the breach wasn't overcome. Even after a personal visit by Herrera, Vela expressed doubts. Herrera, for his part, decided to focus on the 2014 World Cup and moved on with other players.
What Herrera did next was crucial. He didn't trash Vela in the media. He didn't point the finger at the player's hesitation as indicative of some mental instability or weakness of character. He also didn't, out of sheer pique, play any games of pre-emptive rejection by not calling on Vela again.
Herrera merely waited until there was an ideal national team situation set up for a player who feels intense loyalty to the club that practically rescued his career from the scrap heap. When international matches are played in Europe, the fatigue for players based there is minimal. By calling on him for the friendly against Netherlands, Herrera neatly served the ball into Vela's court and waited.
This time, the Real Sociedad player responded in the affirmative.
It's likely that some El Tri supporters will boo the return of the prodigal son. Soccer is full of traditions, and one of the most revered is loyalty to one's country. Vela's inconstancy was seen as traitorous by some.
In certain ways, though, Vela's return is a win for Mexico even before he ever sets foot on the field. The victory here, though, is really for Herrera. The coach whose heart is always on his sleeve is also capable of putting his emotions to one side and taking a look at the big picture. Though he is patriotic to the extreme, Herrera avoided acting affronted by Vela's waffling, instead persisting in offering him a chance to get to know this new version of El Tri. That's smart, because even if comparisons between Vela and Messi are laughable, the question of where the blame lies for Vela's hiatus is ultimately irrelevant. The only question that should matter is, "Can Vela make El Tri a better team?"
A team without Vela pushed Netherlands to the brink in the 2014 World Cup. If Vela can make a solid contribution, a team that includes him might go further -- perhaps to that elusive fifth game Herrera wanted to reach so badly. It might even go beyond that. Key players have proved to be the difference in important tournaments. Vela might be such a player.
Then again, he might not. However, thanks to Herrera and also to Vela's own willingness to return, we will find out.