Two games into the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup, Mexico’s Gilberto Mora has been as good as advertised.
El Tri faced Spain on Wednesday needing to score points against one of the tournament’s favorites. Fortunately for Eduardo Arce’s side, Mora was the best player on the pitch.
The 16-year-old gem opened the scoring after getting away from defenders with an incisive run from the right wing. A quick give-and-go saw him left alone against Real Madrid Castilla goalkeeper Fran González and Mora curled a shot into the far corner to give Mexico the lead in the first half.
Spain came back, though, and two goals from La Rojita had Mexico staring at the face of defeat with less than five minutes to go. That was until Mora alertly stepped in front of his marker, getting to the end of a cross to fire a perfectly placed volley into the bottom corner.
El Tri settled for its second 2–2 draw of the World Cup thanks to Mora’s 87th minute equalizer. After bagging two points from games against powerhouses Brazil and Spain, a win against Morocco would suffice to qualify to the round of 16.
