Gilberto Mora, just 17, is already turning heads in the football world. The Tijuana star is one of the young talents Real Madrid is keeping a close eye on, though club insiders admit they want to see him perform in a major tournament first. That could happen soon, as Mexico coach Javier Aguirre plans to take Mora to the upcoming World Cup.
Rising fast under Aguirre’s guidance
Aguirre has played a key role in Mora’s breakthrough. The Mexican coach called him up to the senior national team for the Gold Cup last summer, when Mora was only 16. In the quarterfinal against Saudi Arabia, Mora assisted a goal in just 25 minutes on the field. In the semifinals against Honduras, he added another assist and scored his first goal. Mexico went on to beat the U.S. in the final, making Mora the youngest player ever to lift an international trophy, surpassing both Pelé and Lamine Yamal, who won the World Cup and Euro at just 17.
Madrid aware of Mora’s meteoric rise
Real Madrid’s scouting network, led by Juni Calafat, stretches beyond Argentina and Brazil to countries like Mexico, which traditionally don’t produce as many elite players. The club aims to position itself early in case Mora keeps up his impressive momentum. He already shone at the recent U-20 World Cup, scoring three goals and providing two assists in five matches.
A family legacy and a Real Madrid dream
Mora comes from footballing stock, his father was a star at Jaguares de Chiapas and famously saved the club from relegation in 2003 with a decisive goal. Mora himself is a devoted Real Madrid fan. Ignacio Ruvalcaba, director of Tijuana’s academy, says, “He has a dream, which is to play for Real Madrid, but he keeps his feet on the ground. He loves football and enjoys watching Madrid. Hopefully, we’ll see him succeed there one day.”
Still, Mora’s representatives remain cautious. A competitive bidding war is expected, reminiscent of Madrid’s recent signings of young talents like Vinicius, Rodrygo, Reinier, Endrick, and Mastantuono. Whether Mora joins this list remains to be seen.
Mora “ready to play anywhere”
Much will depend on Mora’s performance in the upcoming World Cup, still at just 17, and whether he maintains his rapid progression. So far, he has already set records as the third youngest player to debut in Liga MX and the youngest to appear for Mexico’s senior team.
Rafaela Pimenta, Mora’s agent and also Haaland’s representative, recently discussed his future on Mexican network TUDN: “We’ve seen players go to smaller leagues before moving to big clubs. Now, joining a top team can be the right step depending on the player. Gilberto is ready to play anywhere.” She joked about his market value: “For 15 million, you can’t even buy one of Gilberto’s legs.”
Aguirre, with extensive experience in Spanish football and now leading Mexico, also praises the young star: “His parents take great care of him, and it shows in his education. His behavior is excellent, and I don’t think pressure or the environment will affect him.”