Mexico and the World Cup have a special connection but it's one that comes with a sour twist.
World Cup 2026 will be the third time the competition has been held in Mexico, which hosted solo in 1970 and 1986, but El Tri's performance has fallen into an unwelcome pattern.
Mexico have been a dominant regional force along with the United States, winning at the Olympics and at numerous CONCACAF Gold Cups, but the last 16 at every World Cup between 1994 and 2018 without ever getting to el quinto partido. It's become an obsession that even these all-time greats haven't been able to fulfil.
20. Gerardo Torrado
As one of the few Mexican players of his generation to move to Europe, Gerardo Torrado played in Spain with Tenerife, Poli Ejido, Sevilla and Racing Santander. He returned to Central America and spent a decade with Cruz Azul.
The defensive midfielder collected 144 caps for Mexico between 1999 and 2013, winning the Gold Cup twice and playing in three World Cups. El Tri went out in the round of 16 in all of them.
19. Antonio Carbajal
Legendary Leon goalkeeper Antonio 'Tota' Carbajal played for Mexico between 1950 and 1966, winning just 48 caps but becoming the first player to appear in five different World Cups.
Lothar Matthaus was the next player to reach that milestone in 1998 and the longevity of elite playing careers means it's now a select but growing group. El Cinco Copas will always be the first.
18. Oribe Peralta
Former Santos Laguna and America striker Oribe Peralta is one of Mexico's most celebrated modern goalscorers. He found the net 26 times in 67 appearances between 2005 and 2018, and played at the World Cup in both 2014 and 2018.
But it was the Olympics that made his name. Peralta, who also scored 11 goals in Pan American and Olympic Games, is best remembered for his two goals as El Tri's Under-23s beat Brazil to win gold at London 2012.
17. Salvador Reyes
Salvador Reyes scored 14 goals in 49 Mexico caps and played at the World Cup finals in 1958, 1962 and 1966.
He was a prolific scorer at club level, scoring 122 goals for Guadalajara on the way to seven league championships in Mexico. Reyes spent most of his career at the club including 50 ceremonial seconds of a match against Pumas in January 2008, making him the oldest ever player in Mexico's top flight at the age of 71.
16. Luis García
Operating as a forward or winger in a successful career, Luis Garcia started his career in Mexico City with Pumas and spent three years in Spain at Atletico Madrid and Real Sociedad in the nineties.
Garcia scored 28 goals in 77 Mexico caps between 1992 and 1999, and was the joint-highest scorer with Argentina's Gabriel Batistuta as Mexico reached the quarter-finals of Copa America in 1995.
15. Claudio Suarez
With 177 caps between 1992 and 2006, Claudio Suarez was Mexico's most capped player until Andres Guardado surpassed him in 2022.
A legendary centre-back who went to three World Cups and played in two of them, Suarez was also part of the squads that won the Gold Cup on three occasions and took El Tri them to Confederations Cup glory in 1999.
14. Giovani dos Santos
Giovani dos Santos won the Under-17 World Cup with Mexico and went on to play more than 100 times for the senior side, scoring 19 times.
The story of Dos Santos is a modern tale. He moved to Barcelona's youth system and signed for Tottenham Hotspur in 2008, spending time on loan at Ipswich Town, Galatasaray and Racing Santander before enjoying spells at Villarreal and in MLS with Los Angeles Galaxy.
He was part of the Mexico squad that won three Gold Cups and was a gold medal winner at the London Olympics in 2012.
13. Carlos Vela
Carlos Vela was Mexico's top scorer in their triumphant Under-17 World Championship and was snapped up by Arsenal. He spent time on loan and went on to impress later in his career in lengthy spells with Real Sociedad and Los Angeles FC in Major League Soccer.
His international career was tumultuous. Vela declined call-ups after attracting a fine for attending a party after a match but featured at the World Cup in 2018. In all, he scored 19 senior international goals in 72 matches that should have been many more.
12. Raul Jimenez
Striker Raul Jimenez debuted for El Tri in 2013 and has scored 44 times in 123 senior international appearances in the 13 years since.
He returned to action after nine months on the sidelines after suffering a serious head injury while playing for Wolverhampton Wanderers and joined Fulham in 2023. He won the Gold Cup with Mexico in 2015 and was one of the team's over-23 players in their successful campaign at London 2012.
11. Carlos Hermosillo
Carlos Hermosillo started his career at America in the mid-1980s but went on to impress with Mexico City rivals Cruz Azul in the following decade.
Hermosillo is among the highest scorers in Mexico's history, with close to 300 goals in the nation's top flight. He is also one of the national team's most prolific scorers with 34 goals in his 90 appearances, and was part of El Tri's squads at the World Cup in 1986 and 1994.
10. Guillermo Ochoa
Guillermo Ochoa is one of those players who, for international fans at least, seems to disappear between World Cups before re-emerging to star for Mexico in the tournament every four years.
The goalkeeper with the trademark curls has gone to five World Cups and started in three. He is also a five-time Gold Cup winner with Mexico and helped El Tri to a bronze medal as an over-age at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. He won his 150th senior cap in 2024 and was called upon in advance of the home World Cup in 2026.
9. Benjamin Galindo
One of the most stylish players in Mexico's history, Benjamin Galindo was a technically gifted midfielder who scored 28 goals in 65 caps for El Tri.
The Guadalajara and Santos Laguna icon made his international debut in 1983 and last played for his country in 1997. He won domestic titles with four different Mexican clubs and finished his career having played more matches in the nation's top flight (697) than any other player.
8. Luis Hernandez
Luis Hernandez scored 35 goals in 85 games for Mexico between 1995 and 2002 and is El Tri's highest scorer at the men's World Cup, thanks to four goals at the World Cup in France in 1998.
Hernandez, who was known internationally for his trademark blond locks, is best remembered at club level for successful spells at Necaxa and Tigres. He also had a brief stint on loan at Boca Juniors.
7. Jared Borgetti
Jared Borgetti scored 46 goals in 89 games for Mexico and was El Tri's top scorer until he was overtaken by Javier Hernandez in 2017.
The former Santos Laguna favourite had a short spell in England with Bolton Wanderers. He scored almost 300 club goals and his header against Italy at the World Cup in 2002 is considered one of Mexico's best ever goals at the World Cup finals.
6. Andres Guardado
Andres Guardado won an incredible 179 caps between 2005 and 2022 and was part of the Mexico teams that won the CONCACAF Gold Cup on three occasions.
The versatile midfield player enjoyed long periods in Spain with both Deportivo La Coruna and Real Betis, and also spent time at PSV, Valencia and Bayer Leverkusen at club level.
Guardado played at five World Cups before he retired from international duty in 2023.
5. Javier Hernandez
After coming through the youth ranks of Mexican titans Guadalajara, Javier Hernandez followed in the footsteps of his father and made his debut for Mexico at the age of 21.
El Chicharito went on to become Mexico's top scorer of all time with 52 goals in 109 appearances. His international career took him to three World Cups and was matched by spells at some of the top teams in European football, including Manchester United and Real Madrid.
4. Cuauhtemoc Blanco
Cuauhtemoc Blanco is the only male player to have scored at three editions of the World Cup for Mexico, but is best remembered in Europe for inventing the Blanco hop.
The America legend placed the ball between his feet and lifted it as he jumped to avoid a challenge, a move referred to as La Cuauhtemina in Mexico. Blanco was a gifted number 10 and played in Spain and MLS, and scored 38 goals in 119 appearances for El Tri.
Blanco was a two-time Gold Cup winner and a Confederations Cup winner in 1999, finishing the latter with a share of the Golden Boot.
3. Jorge Campos
One of the most iconic players in Mexico's history, Jorge Campos became a cult figure due to his bright jerseys, which he helped design, as well as his impressive reflexes and a habit of coming out of his area to make interceptions and distribute possession.
Despite his small stature of just 5ft 6in (1.68m), Campos is considered one of Mexico's greatest goalkeepers of all time. The eccentric stopper also scored more than 30 goals during his club career and even spent a season playing as a striker at Pumas.
2. Hugo Sanchez
Hugo Sanchez won the Pichichi prize as La Liga's top scorer five times between 1984 and 1990 – four of those with Real Madrid and one at Atletico Madrid – and helped Los Blancos win five titles in a row.
A legendary former striker with a penchant for overhead kicks and acrobatic efforts, Sanchez was one of Real Madrid's best ever players and remains a legend in his homeland. His career with Mexico's national team didn't quite live up to his performances in Spain but he still scored 29 goals in 58 appearances.
1. Rafa Marquez
Rafa Marquez won nearly 150 caps for Mexico between 1997 and 2018 and the stylish but tenacious former defender is the only man in football history to have captained his national team at five World Cups.
Blessed with impressive vision and technical ability, Marquez made more than 200 appearances for Barcelona in seven years at the Catalan club and spent a season in central midfield under Frank Rijkaard.
Nicknamed El Kaiser de Michoacan for his occasionally Beckenbauer-like style, Marquez is one of the greatest Mexican players of all time and, taking into account performances for both club and country, the very best of them all.
