Young Players Shine in Apertura 2024 Debuts
The ball is rolling once again on Mexican soccer fields, and one of the standout stories from Matchday 1 of the Apertura 2024 is the debut of several young players in the Primera División. A total of 11 young Mexican players made their debut in Liga MX, with Club América contributing the most in a semester that saw the return of the youth minutes rule.
In their defeat against Atlético San Luis, Club América stood out by debuting three players, the highest number for any team in Matchday 1. The most notable debut was that of Diego Reyes, who made his first appearance in the top division at just 16 years old. Alongside him, Franco Rossano, 18, and Dagoberto Espinoza, 20, also made their Primera División debuts for Las Águilas.
Following América, Monterrey and Pachuca each saw two players make their debuts during their match, which was the final game of Matchday 1. For Pachuca, it was no surprise to see their commitment to youth development continue with the debuts of Gael Álvarez, 18, and Luis Puente, 21. On the Monterrey side, Alessandro Tagle, 19, and Cristian Reyes, 18, stepped onto the field for their first top-flight appearances.
Other teams also contributed to the list of new faces in Liga MX. For Pumas, Ángel Rico, 19, made his debut, while Francisco Ortiz, 17, had his opportunity with León. Atlético San Luis introduced Luis Nájera, 21, and Atlas saw Carlos Cruz, 20, make his first appearance.
These debuts highlight the emphasis on nurturing young talent within the league, driven by the reinstated rule requiring teams to accumulate 1,000 minutes with homegrown players born between 2001 and 2005. This initiative aims to provide substantial playing time and experience to young players, ultimately strengthening the quality of Mexican football.
Full List of Players Making Their Debut:
- Diego Reyes | América | 16 yrs. old | 1 min
- Franco Rossano | América | 18 yrs. old | 5 min
- Dagoberto Espinoza | América | 20 yrs. old | 31 min
- Carlos Cruz | Atlas | 20 yrs. old | 72 min (Starter)
- Luis Nájera | Atlético San Luis | 21 yrs. old | 76 min (Starter)
- Ángel Rico | Pumas | 19 yrs. old | 45 min (Starter)
- Francisco Ortíz | León | 17 yrs. old | 5 min
- Alessandro Tagle | Monterrey | 19 yrs. old | 61 min (Starter)
- Cristian Reyes | Monterrey | 18 yrs. old | 14 min
- Gael Álvarez | Pachuca| 18 yrs. old| 19 min
- Luis Puente | Pachuca | 21 yrs. old| 53 min (Starter)
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