For the first time in 15 years, the Mexican national team will likely field an active MLS player in a World Cup qualifier against the US when the two countries meet in Columbus on Friday.
LA Galaxy star Giovani dos Santos will likely become the first player to take the field for El Tri in a qualifier against the US since ex-LA attacker Luis Hernandez did it in 2001 when the two rivals meet in their Hexagonal opener on Friday at MAPFRE Stadium (7:45 pm ET, FS1, Univision).
Dos Santos just wrapped an excellent season with the LA Galaxy, with the 27-year-old recording 15 goals and 13 assists in 31 regular-season and playoff appearances before LA lost their Western Conference Semifinal series to Colorado on Sunday.
Of course, he’s far from the only Mexican international that’d be a great fit in MLS. Read on for five other El Tri players who would be excellent additions to the league:
Andres Guardado
Perhaps the most likely Mexican national teamer to make an eventual move to MLS, Guardado has been repeatedly linked with the league and Atlanta United FC over the course of 2016. It’s been reported that he’ll stay with PSV Eindhoven through the European season, but the El Tri captain could be available next summer. The veteran winger has been a star at nearly every stop in his career and, having just turned 30, should have plenty left in the tank. Landing him would be a huge coup for any MLS club.
Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez
The darling of all of Mexico, Chicharito would be a Beckham-level star in MLS. He was connected with the league while struggling for time at Manchester United and on loan at Real Madrid in 2014 and 2015, and came close to signing with Orlando City just a few months ago, but his success since transferring to German club Bayer Leverkusen last year has tamped down talk of a potential move to the US. He’d command a huge transfer fee and an astronomical salary, but the Little Pea would bring plenty of goals – and plenty of fans – to any MLS team he joined.
Carlos Vela
The Mexican national team’s resident maverick, Vela has always struck me as the sort of guy who could surprise with a move to MLS. The often-reluctant El Tri forward is a bit of an enigma off the field, but he has the talent to be a bona fide star on it, as shown by his excellent 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons for Real Sociedad. Like Guardado and Chicharito, the 27-year-old is still in his prime and has shown interest in MLS. Signing him would be riskier than acquiring his aforementioned countrymen, but he‘d bring some legitimate firepower to the league.
Jonathan dos Santos
With Nigel de Jong long gone and Steven Gerrard potentially headed out the door this winter, the LA Galaxy could certainly use a talented center midfielder. Who better than Gio’s little brother? The 26-year-old wouldn’t bring quite the same marketing punch as big bro, but the Villarreal mainstay would be equally influential on the field for a Galaxy team that needs some added oomph in the middle.
