Andre-Pierre Gignac, Cuauhtémoc Blanco and the 25 best Liga MX players of the 21st century so far - ranked

Still active, though in the second division of Mexico, José Juan "Gallito" Vázquez already is turning into a ‘streets remember’ player. Yet, there’s a reason Vazquez’s contributions won’t be forgotten by fans all over the country. The defensive midfielder helped León return to the top division and then was a key component to the back-to-back title wins by protecting a back line that included Rafa Marquez, Jonny Magallón, and “Nacho” Gonzalez.

That would make him a León legend, which he is, but he stayed at a high level after moving to Chivas and helping Matias Almeyda's team win the 2017 Clausura. Then, he won the league again as the central midfielder for Robert Dante Siboldi’s title-winning Santos Laguna squad.

After bursting onto the scene with six goals in the 2002 Apertura, Sinaloa native Omar Bravo became one of the most reliable goal-scorers for Chivas in the 21st Century. He helped the Rebaño Sagrado to the 2006 Apertura title and even was on the cover of the FIFA video game at the height of his fame.

While his career never quite lived up to the heights many hoped it would when he first started scoring, he also had highlights in 2010 when he scored five goals for Chivas during their run to the Copa Libertadores final - including setting up a goal for Marco Fabian and scoring a last-gasp answer to International’s late goal in the second leg in Porto Alegre. It was already too late, but Bravo’s place in history as a top player in Liga MX was secure.

Just four players have played in more Liga MX matches in history than reliable shot-stopper Jesus Corona. Still active, he looks unlikely to catch any of the top four, but no matter how many more matches he starts he leaves as a legend of Cruz Azul and the league.

The backstop for many of La Maquina’s near-misses, Corona was able to celebrate finally breaking the 17-year title drought with Cruz Azul in the 2021 Clausura. He’ll forever be remembered for achieving more than 500 starts with Cruz Azul but he also made a mark in his native Guadalajara with stints at Altas, a stretch of more than 150 matches with Tecos and an odd loan that saw him play in both legs of Chivas’ 2005 quarterfinal win over Boca Juniors in the Copa Libertadores.

While much of Salcido’s success came with the Mexico national team or abroad where he represented PSV and Fulham, he also had impressive spells with Chivas in his native Guadalajara and with Tigres after returning from England.

The versatile defender won the league with both of those clubs, adding a Concacaf crown in 2018 with Chivas plus the Copa MX in the 2015 Apertura and 2017 Clausura. Beyond his play, his leadership was an asset in Liga MX and it carried over when he went abroad as well.

Monterrey’s all-time leading scorer and a player who helped mark an era of success for Rayados, Funes Mori’s mark of 160 goals for La Pandilla may never be topped. The Argentine was comfortable hitting on the counter-attack, lurking for headers in the box, or finishing after more fluid team moves.

He left for Pumas after winning one league title - the 2019 Apertura - and a pair of CONCACAF Champions Cups with Monterrey, plus a couple of Copa MX titles as well.

Perhaps one of the most underrated Mexican players of the first 25 years of the century, Luis “Chapito" Montes won everywhere he went - and often contributed heavily to those triumphs. He won multiple international trophies at Pachuca before departing for León, where he’d become a true club legend. Bridging the generations, Montes was part of both the bicampeonato in 2013-14 and the 2020 Apertura win that saw León win just once in the regular season and once in the playoffs.

Montes overcame a gruesome leg break ahead of the 2014 World Cup to return not only to the field but also to the national team after proving with León he still had the creativity and vision to be an asset in attack.

While overshadowed by a different Paraguayan center back (more on him later), Aguilar was a fixture for a trio of teams in Liga MX, and it was no accident that they enjoyed some of the brightest periods while he was a part of their squads. Aguilar helped Tijuana, América, and Cruz Azul to Liga MX titles and enjoyed a pair of CONCACAF crowns with América as well.

Aguilar was the best center back in the league for many years, both leading the back line and scoring an outsized number of goals for a defender.

A player labeled as a Wigan flop, Boselli needed a place he could call home and rebuild his career. He found it with León, where he played from 2013 to 2018 and left just five goals away from becoming the club’s top scorer of all-time (the record is,) winning the Liga MX’s top scorer title on four occasions. He also was the starting forward in the back-to-back titles in the 2013 Apertura and 2014 Clausura.

While his goal tally of 105 makes him 75th all-time in Liga MX, only four players have scored more goals in the league while playing for only one club.

The winner of five Liga MX titles - four within the 21st century for inclusion - plus a CONCACAF Champions Cup, the goalkeeper made more than 400 appearances for Toluca. In addition to the trophies, Cristante also set a record for the longest period without conceding a goal, going more than eight full matches with a clean sheet in the 2008 Apertura.

He also was ahead of his time when it came to using his feet, distributing the ball comfortably to start attacks. But it was in goal where Cirstante obviously made his living and wrote his legacy as one of the league’s best-ever goalkeepers.

One of the best-ever players to put on the Mexico national team shirt, Ochoa also found success in the country’s domestic league. But the goalkeeper’s time in Mexico was somewhat limited thanks to his move abroad. Still, he suited up for América more than 300 times across two stints and ended up winning the league once and lifting the CONCACAF Champions Cup in 2006.

His cultural impact was boosted by his status as El Tri’s number one, but the reception he received at the Mexico City airport in the summer of 2019 when he came back to join América showed just how relevant he was to fans in the city. He nearly earned a second title in that return, reaching the final against Monterrey in the 2019 Apertura only to fall in a penalty shootout. Even then, Ochoa was on the mark, making a stop in the shootout but seeing his teammates fail to convert enough kicks to win.

Born in Colombia but a Mexico international after spending a decade in the country, all Quiñones did was win in Liga MX. At Tigres, where he was the top scorer in the youth leagues before joining the first team, Quiñones departed with a legacy of winning having secured the Apertura in 2016, the Clausura in 2019 and the Champions Cup in 2020. He was far more influential in lifting Atlas to the bicampeonato, starring alongside Julio Furch in attack as the Zorros won the 2021 Apertura and 2022 Clausura.

Even then, he wasn’t done. In an América team with more attacking options than Atlas, he scored a dozen goals in the 2023 Clausura, then helped América to back-to-back titles in the 2023 Apertura and the 2024 Clausura before moving on to Al-Qadsiah in Saudi Arabia. Those six Liga MX titles are more than nine Liga MX teams have achieved as a whole. Not bad for a player who could still return to the country he now calls home in pursuit of more silverware.

While much of the Mexican forward's success came before 2000, Borgetti played into 2010 and consistently helped the teams he represented find goals. He was one of the best players in the league in both the 2000 Invierno and 2001 Verano tournaments, winning the Golden Ball award, and scoring in both legs of Santos Laguna's final win over Pachuca in the 2001 Verano.

While he could never find that same scoring form after leaving Mexico for Bolton in England and Al-Ittihad in the Saudi league, his strong contributions from 2000 until 2005, where he scored 102 goals, merit inclusion among the best.

Not exactly Liga MX’s version of a “Barclaysman,” but absolutely a cult hero whose brilliance flew under the radar, Sambueza left a mark in Liga MX. He’s not just a fun payer to look up on YouTube, either - though his brilliant left foot is worth suffering through whatever synth soundtrack is playing during the clip. Sembueza was the best player on one of the best teams in the league for several years lifting two Liga MX trophies with América and helping Las Aguilas to two CONCACAF Champions Cup wins as well.

Some of Sambueza’s best individual moments came during his time at Toluca—and even earlier at América, with Tecos, or on loan with Pumas. No matter the jersey he wore, Sambueza was always worth watching. He consistently made things happen.

By far one of the biggest characters in a league that doesn’t lack big personalities, Nahuel Guzman has been one of the top goalkeepers in Liga MX since his arrival to Tigres in 2014. With five Liga MX titles, the 2020 CONCACAF Champions Cup, more than a few sending offs and a magic trick or two along the way, the Argentine still is starting for Tigres and hopes to add to the trophy case.

Even if he doesn’t, he’s helped turn Tigres into a perennial contender, winning over fans in El Volcan and becoming a cartoon villain fans of rivals love to hate.

Alvarez played over 100 matches for three Liga MX clubs: Morelia, Pachuca, and Tigres. He was a key player for each team, leading Monarcas to a final, securing the 2007 Clausura and three CONCACAF titles with Pachuca—as well as the historic Copa Sudamericana, which remains the only South American trophy won by a Mexican team—and later excelling with Tigres.

In his final stop with Tigres, he won another four titles, meaning his total trophy haul rivals many clubs in the region. The creativity he showed with the ball at his feet and the ability to turn a simple pass into a scoring chance for his forwards helped make Alvarez a Tigres and Liga MX legend.

“San Oswaldo” made 725 Liga MX appearances, more than 550 of them coming after the turn of the century. The goalkeeper was one of the most consistent Mexican players ever, and helped Chivas to the 2006 Apertura title, then won a pair of trophies with Santos Laguna in the 2008 and 2012 Clausura.

A penalty-stopping specialist who always read rival forwards’ shots well, Sanchez was named the Best Goalkeeper of the League on several occasions - but notably also won the league’s award for best overall player twice.

Peralta was a consistent scorer at every stop - and he did make a few, becoming a club legend for Santos Laguna but also earning fans’ respect with Monterrey, América, now-defunct Jaguares, and Chivas. Peralta wasn’t the focal point of the attack when Santos won the 2008 Clausura but was by the time they won the 2012 Clausura. He’d scored 10 goals the tournament before and added nine in the title-winning campaign.

Club América made a move to bring the Torreon native from his hometown to the capital in 2014. During five years there, he helped América win two more Liga MX titles and two Concacaf Champions Cup titles - plus a Copa MX for good measure.

A legendary goalkeeper who was famous for wearing caps, Calero backstopped Pachuca to four Liga MX titles and several international honors.

“El Condor” may have been at his best in 2006 when he paced Pachuca to the Copa Sudamericana title - the only time a Mexican club has won a South American club championship. Pachuca lost just once in eight matches and rallied to beat Colo-Colo 2-1 in Santiago to lift the trophy.

Peralta was a consistent scorer at every stop - and he did make a few, becoming a club legend for Santos Laguna but also earning fans’ respect with Monterrey, América, now-defunct Jaguares, and Chivas. Peralta wasn’t the focal point of the attack when Santos won the 2008 Clausura but was by the time they won the 2012 Clausura. He’d scored 10 goals the tournament before and added nine in the title-winning campaign.

Club América made a move to bring the Torreon native from his hometown to the capital in 2014. During five years there, he helped América win two more Liga MX titles and two Concacaf Champions Cup titles - plus a Copa MX for good measure.

The best foreign defender to play in Liga MX and one of the best period in league history, Veron arrived in Mexico City in 2003 and left the country in 2017 as a Pumas legend with an impressive trophy collection to boot. Shortly after moving from his native Paraguay, Veron and Pumas became the first back-to-back winners in the short tournament era and finished off as a four-time Liga MX champion.

He was one of the best center backs in the league for an extended period of time, likely reaching his peak when he captained Pumas to the 2011 Clausura title, still the last league crown Pumas have been able to secure.

His goal total of 102 for Monterrey was surpassed by Rogelio Funes Mori. Other players have more trophies. But the impact of Humberto “Chupete” Suazo on Rayados and Liga MX is difficult to top. Suazo arrived in Monterrey with big expectations he didn’t meet but soon was smashing in goals to help Rayados win the 2009 and 2010 Apertura titles plus three consecutive CONCACAF Champions Cups.

Suazo helped turn Rayados into the club they are today - consistent contenders for titles in a way they weren’t before the Chilean’s arrival. That alone is an achievement. Add in the goals in huge moments, and you can see why he’s revered in Nuevo León and beyond.

Born in Brazil, Sinha eventually represented the Mexico national team thanks to his early arrival in the north of Mexico to play with Monterrey. But he’s an icon for what he did at Toluca, the club he played more than 500 matches for between 1999 and 2017.

A midfielder who saw things no one else on or off the field could, Sinha ended his career with five Liga MX tiles with Toluca and also won the 2003 CONCACAF Champions Cup with the club. He was recognized with multiple individual awards in the same period - according to Statiskicks ending his career with 96 assists.

“El Cuauh” is well-known. His hunched shoulders, the ball between his legs, the ‘how-did-he-do-that?’ dribbles he’d pull off. Much of his career took place before the year 2000, and even then he started his sojourn to Spain. He later played three years of this century in MLS.  

Yet, he did enough in his Liga MX return, first with Veracruz, and especially with América where he won the 2005 Liga MX crown and the 2006 CONCACAF Champions Cup. Even later on he was able to push Irapuato to the second-division crown and win a pair of Copa MXs as he started to bop around Mexico. Blanco was magic, and he kept showing that magic long after he was at the peak of his powers.

Cardozo’s jaw-dropping 249 goals run from 1994 to his 2005 departure from Toluca, was interrupted only by a pair of loan spells late in his career. Even though he only played for five years in the 21st century, he was still dominant. He helped Toluca to two titles during that period (the 2000 Verano tournament and the 2002 Apertura), won the 2003 CONCACAF Champions Cup with the Diablos Rojos, and was the top scorer in both that 2002 Apertura campaign in the 2003 Clausura - running up more than 50 goals in the calendar year.

The all-time leader in goals scored in the short tournament era and an icon for a club that puts itself among the league’s grandes, there was functionally no team Cardozo didn’t score against and no way to stop him from finding the back of the net.

Before he arrived in 2015, it would’ve been quite a leap to say a big Frenchman who showed up deploying Mexican slang would be the best Liga MX player of the 21st Century. Now, it feels like it’d be a leap to put anyone but Gignac in the No. 1 slot.

For the last decade, Gignac has scored goals whenever Tigres needed them: In regular season matches, in continental competition, and the Liguilla. The decision to sign Gignac has paid off with five league titles, the club’s first-ever CONCACAF Champions Cup victory, a near-miss in the last Copa Libertadores to include Mexican teams and several other accolades.

Clubs tried to imitate Tigres by finding their own version of the European import, including Jeremy Menez at América, Vincent Janssen with Rayados. Both moves, along with Tigres' own disappointing signing of Florian Thauvin, didn't pan out and shows how difficult it can be to adjust to Liga MX. It is a testament to Gignac’s abilities, his attitude, and the fact that Liga MX will likely never see another player quite like him again.