'he Has That Special Aura' - The Story Of Mexico's 16-year-old Star

Lamine Yamal's position arsenic nan youngest subordinate to triumph a awesome elder world tourney didn't past agelong - 358 days to beryllium exact.

In Europe, not truthful overmuch is known astir nan 16-year-old who took nan grounds Yamal collapsed erstwhile he won Euro 2024 pinch Spain against England.

But we soon will.

The chances are, by nan clip adjacent summer's World Cup comes around, Gilberto Mora will beryllium a immense taxable of conversation.

Twelve months ago, statement wrong Mexico's shot circles was whether Mora should prioritise nan Under-20 aliases Under-17 World Cups, some of which are being held this autumn.

As it turns out, he will skip this month's elder friendlies against Japan and South Korea spell to nan under-20 type successful Chile. After that, each routes will lead to 11 June and Mexico City and nan opening crippled of nan 2026 World Cup.

Mora looks definite to play a cardinal role.

"Gil is only 16 and already he is competing pinch men astatine nan highest level and making an effect for his country," said Club Tijuana proprietor Jorge Alberto.

"To spot a subordinate who grew up here, astatine our club, astatine Tijuana, spell and execute for illustration that - it's special. It's pridefulness for maine personally, pridefulness for nan club, and pridefulness for nan city."

Mora was 16 years and 265 days aged erstwhile he started for Mexico successful their Concacaf Gold Cup last triumph complete nan United States successful Houston successful July.

He had travel into Javier Aguirre's broadside for nan quarter-final pinch Saudi Arabia and stayed there. Sports Illustrated named Mora man of nan lucifer successful nan semi-final triumph complete Honduras, successful which he supplied nan important walk for Fulham striker Raul Jimenez to people nan only goal.

"He's only 16 but already plays pinch assurance and characteristic and is unafraid of nan occasion," said Jimenez, a legendary fig for Mexico himself.

"I judge he tin beryllium a cardinal fig for nan nationalist squad and personification who inspires nan adjacent generation."

Some of nan statistic astir Mora are startling.

He made his debut successful Liga MX, Mexico's apical flight, aged 15 years and 308 days, becoming Club Tijuana's youngest ever subordinate and, arsenic it turned out, nan youngest subordinate to declare an assistance successful nan league. Less than a fortnight later he became nan league's youngest extremity scorer.

In January, he became nan youngest subordinate to characteristic for Mexico. Then he took Yamal's record.

The boy of a erstwhile professional, besides called Gilberto, Mora revered Cristiano Ronaldo arsenic a kid and moved to Tijuana from his location metropolis Tuxtla Gutierrez aged six. He joined nan club's younker set-up astatine 10.

As nan communicative goes, Mora was truthful obsessed pinch shot that erstwhile his family went to enroll him successful schools, if he discovered he wouldn't beryllium allowed to play pinch his shot astatine recess, he didn't want to go.

It hardly needs to beryllium said he tin play. Yet, to beryllium trusted to clasp down a cardinal midfield berth for nan nationalist broadside successful a state arsenic shot obsessed arsenic Mexico astatine specified a young age, you request more.

Sources person cited composure, movement, intelligence and a willingness to nexus play arsenic nan defining aspects of his game. Crucially 'maturity beyond his age' was different important factor.

"I first met Gil six months ago," said Rafaela Pimenta, nan Brazilian who is now his agent.

"What struck maine was really superior and focused he was for personification his age, and really awesome his English was too.

"He showed correct distant that he was looking astatine shot not conscionable arsenic a game, but arsenic a profession he was fresh to dedicate himself to."

Mora has been knowledgeable successful bilingual schools and has backstage one-to-one tuition successful English.

In an era wherever Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold person some been praised for being capable to speak Spanish pursuing their respective moves to Real Madrid, Mora conducted a news convention successful English earlier Tijuana's Leagues Cup brushwood pinch Colorado Rapids past month.

All nan talk is of a grounded young man, who goes to Mass, is exceptionally adjacent to his family, spends other hours connected nan training crushed practicing his skills and is bonded to nan squad ethic.

If Mora maintains his coming trajectory and nan anticipated accolades do come, each that will beryllium tested to its fullest extent.

Pimenta's guidance will beryllium important arsenic nan months and years spell on.

Strong rumours person already started circulating astir Real Madrid's liking successful Mora. Through nationalist squad legends Hugo Sanchez and Javier Hernandez location is simply a humanities Mexican nexus to nan Bernabeu already.

For now though, nan World Cup is nan teenager's superior target, not conscionable playing astatine it, but making a important impact.

"What sets Gil isolated is not conscionable his talent but nan calm maturity he brings to each situation," said Pimenta.

"On nan transportation and disconnected it, he is precisely nan aforesaid - focused, respectful, and looking astatine nan agelong travel ahead. He has that typical aura that only definite players have, nan magnetism you consciousness erstwhile he walks into a room. It inspires group astir him, not only successful Mexico but besides beyond."

Unlike Yamal, whose estimation has grown truthful quickly that - still aged only 18 - comparisons are already starting to beryllium made pinch Lionel Messi, fewer successful Europe person seen Mora play.

Word is starting to get information though, arsenic Alberto observed during nan midfielder's two-goal capacity against LA Galaxy successful nan United States past month.

"Every clip he touched nan ball, nan crowd erupted - not conscionable our fans, but Galaxy supporters and Mexican fans successful general," he said.

"The aforesaid point happened successful Colorado, wherever we don't person a fan-base. People who had ne'er followed Tijuana were applauding him.

"Now successful Mexico it's nan aforesaid story. Wherever we go, successful each city, rival fans applaud him.

"That tells you thing very powerful - he is already becoming a fig for nan full country."

By adjacent June, nan full world is apt to beryllium watching.