TIJUANA, Mexico — Moments before engaging with rising Mexican soccer star Gilberto Mora, an unexpected message came through from Club Tijuana’s media personnel, resulting in a noteworthy occurrence within Mexican sports journalism.
“Cesar, could you pose your question to Gil in English? Your turn next,” the message stated as my microphone was activated for a Zoom discussion in early August.
Mora, at age 16, had already achieved a series of remarkable feats within his first year as a professional. He stands as the youngest goal-scorer in Liga MX, the youngest to represent Mexico in an official match, and recently overtook Pelé and Lamine Yamal as the youngest competitor to secure an international title at the Concacaf Gold Cup.
And yet, he continued to generate astonishment.
“I’m genuinely happy to be a part of this [Club Tijuana] squad, and naturally, the Mexican national team,” Mora articulated smoothly to ESPN. “I’m focused on savoring this period, and with the backing of my fellow players and my coach, I’m very thankful.”
Present beside him, resembling a proud guardian, Tijuana’s head coach, Sebastián Abreu, punctuated the discussion with enthusiastic applause. “That was impeccable. What else could you request?” the coach commented in Spanish. “He kicks effectively with both feet, he scores regularly, and he addresses you in English.
“If prompted, he can converse in German too, but we lack German reporters,” Abreu jested.
Tijuana’s manager makes a valid observation. Just a year ago, Mora was a 15-year-old academy hopeful lacking professional experience, and since then, his ascension has been incredibly rapid, emerging as a pivotal player for his club and a potential game-changer for Mexico leading up to the 2026 World Cup.
So, what prospects lie ahead?
“I aim to secure championships with Xolos, and naturally, with the national team, the World Cup, and also aim to compete in Europe,” the adaptable and offensively inclined young player told ESPN.
Mora is emerging as one of the most captivating young players globally and a potential key asset for Mexico on the grandest stage in soccer.
A future ‘Champions League’ player in Tijuana
During Friday matchdays at the U.S.-Mexico boundary, Xolos jerseys are often seen as fans journey to and from Tijuana, but in a match against a Liga MX powerhouse like Chivas on Aug. 22, the substantial fan base of the Rojiblancos making their way south was noticeable.
As one of the two most supported club teams in North America, and with a squad policy that emphasizes cultural identity and pride by featuring only Mexican players, few contests hold as much significance for Xolos as when Chivas arrives, transforming Estadio Caliente into an extension of Guadalajara.
Despite this, Mora remained the center of attention.
“The premier prospect [in Mexican soccer]? Definitely, without question,” emphasized Tom Harrison, a Liga MX analyst who previously worked as Santos Laguna’s analytics director. “This young man has the potential to compete at a Champions League level in the future.”
Within the opening five minutes of the match, and after receiving the most boisterous cheers during the announcement of starting XIs for both teams, the young Mexico international scored.
Playing in what resembled a central attacking role, the teenager seized an opportunity on a loose ball within the penalty area, smartly placing Xolos ahead 1-0. Demonstrating comfort in various roles, including midfield, as a No. 10, a cutting winger, or a forward, Mora once again put on a display.
“His ability to maintain possession is excellent, encompassing not just dribbling, but also passing accuracy, and avoiding poor touches or tackles. He ranks among the league’s best in keeping control of the ball,” noted Harrison, who also applauded his ball-carrying prowess and individual skill.
“That’s a quality you don’t typically find in a player so young.”
By the 64th minute, Mora played a role in Xolos’ subsequent goal. Despite appearing as an own goal from Chivas’ Luis Romo, the Xolos youngster influenced the play by contesting a rebound, which ultimately bypassed Chivas goalkeeper Raúl Rangel. Regardless of the official ruling of an own goal — and the eventual collapse resulting in a 3-3 draw — the border-town match felt like another important advancement for the Gold Cup victor.
“It’s been a gradual process,” Mora shared postgame with ESPN regarding his focus on improving his finishing. “I needed to address that, taking more shots, scoring more frequently, and I’m pleased that it’s materializing.”
“Continue working,” he added. “And aim for greater accomplishments.”
Abreu also acknowledged the player who, at the sporting level, may have outgrown the “kid” label.
“There’s no need to refer to Gil Mora as a ‘youth player’ any longer,” the coach expressed post-game. “Yes, he’s young, only 16, but he’s also a first division player, just like everyone else. [He possesses] character, scores, and positions himself effectively, showcasing versatility and movement characteristic of a seasoned first-division player.”
Mora’s path to Mexico stardom
It’s significant that Mora’s swift progression to the senior national team is attributed to his discovery by a former Mexico coach.
Following Xolos’ early elimination from last year’s Leagues Cup competition, former El Tri manager Juan Carlos Osorio — then the coach of Tijuana — used the extended period to experiment and organize internal summer sessions, inviting several of Xolos’ promising academy players.
Osorio began monitoring a particular No. 251, the son of a former professional player carrying the same name, while evaluating the youth players wearing triple-digit kit numbers that must earn their place among the first team’s single and double digits.
Osorio was quickly impressed.
By August 2024, Osorio promoted Mora to the first team, giving him his debut at just 15 years of age against Santos Laguna. After skillfully navigating the midfield and connecting with striker Jaime Álvarez, Mora earned his first assist within 30 minutes. Two weeks later, in his first professional start, he became the youngest goal scorer in Liga MX, securing a 65th-minute game-winning goal against León.
“Gil is a good person, both on and off the field,” said Xolos midfielder and former U.S. men’s national team player Joe Corona to ESPN. “He’s demonstrated his abilities through the games he’s played for both the first team and the national team. Off the field, he’s simply a young individual with dreams. He’s a respectful, talented player with significant potential.”
What Osorio identified was not a coincidence. Harrison, who focuses on numbers and data, noticed Mora’s presence through an analytics provider named GolStats that specializes in Mexican soccer.
“I could track players and determine the most promising [Liga MX academy] talents,” Harrison said. “He stood out as potentially the best player we’ve seen in his position and age group since 2018, the year GolStats began providing data.”
At the highest level, Mora’s growth led to his call-up to an experimental and youthful roster during Mexico’s January camp. Still showing great promise at the club level in early 2025, Mora was added to Mexico’s Gold Cup squad for the summer, making three appearances in the knockout stages and providing the assist for the game-winning goal in their 1-0 semifinal victory over Honduras.
Operating in a deeper role in the midfield within El Tri‘s 4-3-3 formation, Mora cemented his status as the youngest player to win an international trophy when Javier Aguirre’s Mexico defeated the United States 2-1 in the final. Weeks later, he would also score the lone goal for Liga MX in July’s MLS All-Star Game.
“His skill set is unusual for a young player,” Harrison noted. “He’s not merely fast and good at dribbling; he possesses a much more comprehensive skill set than that.”
Back with Xolos after the Gold Cup, Abreu knows it’s only a matter of time before he achieves greater accomplishments.
“It appears to me that when we analyze Gil Mora, everything you observe is consistent with what I see,” Abreu commented to ESPN. “We have the privilege of enjoying his presence here. However, as each day passes, we have one less day to enjoy him here, until he turns 18 [and becomes eligible to move to Europe], at which point [low whistle] we can enjoy him elsewhere.”
‘He can make his dreams come true’
Patience and strategic planning are recurring topics when discussing Mora’s future, which seems inevitably headed to Europe.
If any player understands this, it’s Mexico star Hirving “Chucky” Lozano, who offered advice to Mora after experiencing a similar move abroad at a young age.
“I met him at the [MLS] All-Star Game and advised him to keep pushing forward and to enjoy himself,” said the San Diego FC player to ESPN’s Ahora o Nunca. “I believe the most critical aspect is to mentor him effectively, guiding him carefully and acting in his best interests because we’ve seen numerous players rise to prominence only to then fade away.
“He’s a tremendous player with exceptional skills, and I hope he succeeds in the future and realizes his ambitions.”
Following the Chivas game in August, Abreu echoed these thoughts.
“I think the most advantageous approach would be to emulate [Federico] Valverde, whom Madrid acquired at 18 but loaned out for a year to Deportivo de la Coruña, who were competing in LaLiga, to facilitate his adaptation process,” Abreu suggested.
“He could certainly make the significant leap to Europe, but the transition could involve an adjustment period during which he competes, plays, and learns about the environment, the dynamics, the pace, and the physical requirements.”
Mexico is proceeding cautiously with Mora during this international break. Instead of participating in friendlies against Japan and South Korea, the soon-to-be 17-year-old is training with the youth squad preparing for the Under-20 World Cup.
A paradoxical presence as a veteran with experience, but also several years younger than most of his 20-year-old teammates, Mora is predicted to be a crucial leader when the tournament begins later this month.
While it may seem peculiar to most, this is a player who signed autographs after the Chivas game for teenagers and young adults who were obviously older than him. This level of recognition will likely persist.
Given that the past year has demonstrated Mora’s ability to positively influence games for both club and country at any level, 2026 presents an opportunity to elevate Mexico to new heights at the World Cup they are co-hosting with the U.S. and Canada.
Already breaking records and exceeding expectations, it’s hard to predict what other surprises he may unveil by then. Perhaps he will even answer questions in German.
