On Friday, Nov. 11, the Mexico national team will face the United States to start the Hexagonal round of World Cup qualifying. Which Liga MX stars named to El Tri's squad look poised to make a big impact? We asked our experts Tom Marshall, Nayib Moran and Cesar Hernandez for their picks. Vote for yours below!
Rafael Marquez, DF/MF, Atlas
Why not Rafa Marquez? We've said this every time he's taken to the field against the United States over the last few years, but surely this will be the final time he plays the U.S. in a competitive game. It will definitely be the last time he faces the Stars and Stripes in Columbus, Ohio, a place that hasn't exactly been kind to him or to the Mexico national team. There was the red card in 2009, as well as the 2005 and 2001 losses -- although Marquez missed out in 2013. And all of those games finished as 2-0 losses.
How Atlas captain Marquez -- a key figure in the growth of the U.S.-Mexico soccer rivalry --would love a chance to change what has been a largely negative record against El Tri's bitter rival.
Could Marquez start on Nov. 11? Yes. It certainly isn't a guarantee, but Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio doesn't have a defensive midfielder he can totally rely on and the memory of Marquez not being used in that collapse against Chile is fresh. Marquez is in decent form and provides the instant option of dropping back to become a third center-back should Osorio require it.
It would certainly add another layer of intrigue to an already gripping event.
-- Tom Marshall (@mexicoworldcup)
Alfredo Talavera, GK, Toluca
When Toluca hosted Queretaro in the Copa MX semifinals, Osorio was one of thousands of people in attendance at the Estadio Alberto "Chivo" Cordoba. The match finished in a scoreless draw in regular time, defining the winner from the penalty spot.
Toluca goalkeeper Talavera and Queretaro keeper Tiago Volpi gave astounding performances. The latter would go on to repeat the feat in his team's Copa MX final win over Chivas.
It was a night where two of the best goalkeepers in Liga MX went at it till the very end. After the penalty duel, the final score read 8-7 in favor of Los Gallos Blancos. Sixteen penalty attempts had been taken, with Talavera stopping one and scoring another of his own.
Throughout the game, Talavera's tall figure and dominating presence in the box were evident. Those are two specific characteristics that Osorio will want to have in El Tri's XI come the games against the U.S. and Panama. Ever since Osorio became Mexico's boss, Talavera has taken his leadership skills to another level, and that is due in part to the unlimited trust the coach has deposited in him.
-- Nayib Moran (@nayibmoran)
Hirving Lozano, MF, Pachuca
After looking through Mexico's roster a few times, one Liga MX name continues to stand out: Hirving "Chucky" Lozano.
The Pachuca winger has plenty of pace and confidence to frustrate the U.S. and he's had an exemplary Apertura season to boot, both of which should justify a start for El Tri. Even though the 21-year-old missed out on part of the season for the 2016 Olympics, he has still been able to collect seven goals and three assists for Los Tuzos.
It's also key to note that with those seven strikes, the winger is currently the leading Mexican goalscorer in the domestic league. In fact, he is the only Mexican-born player who has been able to find the back of the net on more than five occasions during the Apertura.
With his speed and noteworthy dribbling, the Pachuca youngster is an ideal candidate to start on one of the wings for El Tri on Nov. 11. Lozano has thrived in Mexico during the past couple of years and has proven to have the talents to grow and develop in Europe in the near future.
Keeping this in mind, "Chucky" will be eager to gain more notoriety in a highly anticipated World Cup qualifying game against the Unites States.
-- Cesar Hernandez (@cesarhfutbol)