Alex Aguinaga calls out Mexican football’s biggest problem and his criticism hits deep

Few foreign players have left a mark on Mexican football like Alex Aguinaga. The Ecuadorian icon who once led Necaxa to glory has now delivered one of his most direct and uncomfortable assessments of the current Liga MX landscape.

In an interview with El Universal Deportes, Aguinaga argued that Mexico’s football has lost quality due to the excess of foreign players and the lack of strong international competition. The former midfielder, who spent more than a decade in Mexico, believes this imbalance has hurt both the domestic league and the national team.

“In other times, Mexican football had a very high level. The competition was good, teams faced South American clubs regularly. Now it’s declined because of the number of foreigners, not all of whom are top quality, and they block opportunities for Mexican players,” he explained. “The lack of promotion and relegation also plays a role, because teams no longer feel pressure to strengthen their squads.”

A smaller talent pool for El Tri

Aguinaga, who represented Ecuador in the 2002 World Cup, sees a direct connection between the league’s structure and the national team’s recent struggles.

“If the national team’s level has dropped, it’s because there’s less raw talent,” he said. “There are few players with top-level ability, and the number of foreign signings keeps limiting the emergence of new Mexican stars. Some players end up sitting on the bench for months because clubs prefer to use foreigners.”

Currently, Liga MX teams can register up to nine foreign players, one of the highest limits among major leagues in the Americas. For Aguinaga, this regulation explains why Mexico’s attacking options have become narrower, forcing the national team coach to work with a much smaller pool of talent.

“It’s very difficult for a Mexican player to break through and then stand out,” he concluded, underscoring that the issue is structural rather than generational.

A wake-up call before 2026

With the 2026 World Cup approaching, Aguinaga’s comments resonate more strongly than ever. Mexico will be one of the tournament’s hosts, yet its player development system is under scrutiny.

The veteran’s critique aligns with what several former professionals and coaches have voiced in recent months, that Liga MX must refocus on producing local talent if it wants to compete again with the continent’s best.