Mexico has released its 26-player World Cup roster, with young attacking stars Diego Lainez and Santiago Giménez both missing out.
Tata Martino has opted to bring injured striker Raúl Jiménez in his squad, as the Wolves star looks to recover from a troublesome groin injury that has seen him sidelined since August.
Many observers tipped Giménez as a potential replacement for Jiménez. The 21-year-old has hit the ground running after a summer move to Feyenoord, scoring six goals in 18 games for the Dutch power so far.
Lainez, meanwhile, has been tipped as a future Mexico superstar for several years, but his club career has gone off the tracks in recent seasons. The 22-year-old struggled for minutes at Real Betis, and a summer move to Portuguese side Braga has not produced the upturn in fortunes many had anticipated.
The winger has just two starts for Braga in 2022-23, which has cost him a shot at his first World Cup squad.
Lainez and Giménez were in competition with Roberto Alvarado, who did earn a call from Martino due to his strong form in Liga MX with Chivas.
El Tri will be led in attack by Napoli star Hirving Lozano. The midfield will be anchored by veterans Hector Herrera and Andres Guardado, who will be competing in his fifth World Cup.
Mexico will begin World Cup play on November 22 against Poland, before facing Argentina and Saudi Arabia in Group C.
Mexico World Cup roster
Goalkeepers: Rodolfo Cota (Leon), Guillermo Ochoa (Club América), Alfredo Talavera (FC Juarez)
Defenders: Kevin Alvarez (Pachuca), Nestor Araujo (Club América), Gerardo Arteaga (Genk), Jesus Gallardo (Monterey), Hector Moreno (Monterey), Cesar Montes (Monterey), Jorge Sanchez (Ajax), Johan Vasquez (Cremonese)
Midfielders: Edson Alvarez (Ajax), Roberto Alvarado (Chivas), Uriel Antuna (Cruz Azul), Luis Chavez (Pachuca), Andres Guardado (Real Betis), Erick Gutierrez (PSV), Hector Herrera (Houston Dynamo), Orbelin Pineda (AEK Athens), Carlos Rodriguez (Cruz Azul), Luis Romo (Monterey), Hirving Lozano (Napoli)
Forwards: Rogelio Funes Mori (Monterey), Raul Jimenez (Wolves), Henry Martin (Club América), Alexis Vega (Chivas)
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