Monterrey Rayados made another statement of intent this week with the 4.5 million dollar transfer of former Manchester United golden boy Anthony Martial from AEK Athens in Greece to the club that describes itself as Mexico’s “most international”. The club is led by captain Sergio Ramos, the hero of Real Madrid, and former Real Betis standout Sergio Canales.
Historically, Liga MX focused on developing Mexican and Latin American talent and transferring players within the region. In recent years, the league has flexed its financial muscle to attract international stars. Brazilian legend Ronaldinho briefly played for Queretaro, while former Marseille striker André-Pierre Gignac became a Tigres UANL icon, leading the team to multiple championships since 2015. Other Europeans like Jérémy Ménez with Club América and Vincent Janssen, who was a champion at Monterrey, had shorter spells in the league that were impactful.
All Eyes on Anthony Martial and Allan Saint-Maximin
Anthony Martial’s arrival at Monterrey, alongside Allan Saint-Maximin joining Club América from Newcastle after a stint in the Saudi League and Fenerbahce under Jose Mourinho, has captured attention. Saint-Maximin, known for his speed on the wing, arrived for a $12 million fee and has already scored twice in two games, including the match-winner against Atlas. He’s looking to revitalize his career after a disappointing time in the Middle East.
Martial will be wearing #9 for Rayados, who currently lead the Liga MX table. The former golden boy has 30 caps for France and scored 63 goals for Manchester United. Martial arrives after a stalled period at Sevilla and AEK Athens where he battled injuries and at times, was accused of lacking motivation, he now teams up with Mexican international German Berterame, Monterrey’s primary striker with 47 goals in three years, in an attack that also features former Marseille and Sevilla standout Lucas Ocampos.
A European Renaissance in Liga MX
The league has never seen a European influx comparable to the current crop. Spanish players headline this wave. Sergio Ramos has been a stalwart at Monterrey, captaining the club with flair despite his advanced age. He is joined by teammates Oliver Torres (ex-Sevilla), and Canales, who recently scored an olympic goal from a corner untouched.
Alvaro Fidalgo of Spain is a top midfielder for Club América, while Portugal’s Paulinho (ex-Sporting CP) led Toluca to the latest league title, scoring 29 goals in 43 games. Pachuca features Portugal’s William Carvalho, while Pumas UNAM signed former Arsenal star Aaron Ramsey, who at 34 remains pivotal for Wales. Montenegro’s Uros Drudjevic plays a key role at Club Atlas, and Cruz Azul, the most recent CONCACAF Champions, includes Greek striker Georgios Giakoumakis, with Poland’s Mateusz Bogusz.
The transfer of Martial made headlines globally, with coverage in English media, French, Mexican, and Greek outlets. While Gignac nears retirement and battles for fitness, he paved the way for Europeans in Liga MX, who have also found inspiration by Ramos’ continued success in Monterrey, including his Club World Cup performance. The World Cup host cities of Monterrey and Mexico City are also internationally attractive destinations for footballers.
South American Talent Strengthens Liga MX
Liga MX rivals both the Brazilian league and MLS in spending power, having already surpassed the Argentinian league despite no longer participating in the Copa Libertadores. Tigres signed Argentine international Angel Correa from Atletico Madrid, who was greeted by raucous airport scenes as the new international star in Monterrey, a city that leads Liga MX in attendance consistently. Costa Rica’s legendary goalkeeper Keylor Navas is at Pumas, while Uruguay’s goalkeeper Santiago Mele joined Monterrey. Colombia’s two national team goalkeepers Kevin Mier (Cruz Azul), Camilo Vargas (Atlas), and their legendary midfielder James Rodriguez (Club Leon) are also major contributors for their clubs, with Rodriguez driving ticket and jersey sales for Leon, and ensuring the teams games are broadcast in Colombia.
Club Pachuca, focused on youth development, features 19-year-old Elias Montiel and formerly had Nelson Deossa, a Colombian midfielder who moved to Real Betis after a great year at Monterrey. Pachuca replaced Venezuelan international striker Solomon Rondon with Ecuador international Enner Valencia, a 35-year-old who has scored 47 goals for Ecuador and scored 18 in 23 games for Pachuca a decade ago. Valencia is no stranger to Liga MX, having spent significant time at Tigres as well.
Liga MX Aims to Expand Further Into U.S. Market
Unlike MLS, Liga MX has no defined salary cap, and relatively loose restrictions on signing foreign players. Chivas, Mexico’s second most historic club, remains an exception, signing only Mexican-eligible players. The league is making big moves to expand in the United States and is well-positioned to do so given they regularly top tv ratings for football in the country ahead of MLS, which sits behind the Apple TV paywall. The talent added to the league in the past 2 seasons demonstrate this is a golden era for Liga MX, with the top half of its 18 teams fiercely competitive and playoff races close every season.
Main Photo Credit: Imago Images Copyright: xMartinxRickettx