Ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Mexico have officially excluded two of the country's highest-capped players from the squad that will compete in Qatar next month.
Senegal Set To Receive $21 Million At World Cup
Head coach Gerardo Martino, a former Barcelona manager, has left both Carlos Vela and Javier Hernandez out of Mexico's 31-man preliminary squad for the World Cup in the Middle East.
This is where everything counts. ????
— Mexican National Team (@miseleccionmxEN) October 26, 2022
These are our 31 players with 130 million behind them. ?????
This is our roster for #MéxicoDeMiVida. ?????? #FMFporNuestroFútbol pic.twitter.com/UTOWS73u4l
The two experienced forwards were not expected to be part of Martino's plans for the tournament, but the nation's squad announcement on Wednesday confirmed they will not be given a chance to return to the Mexican national team.
Vela, capped on 72 occasions for the North American country, has not played international football since 2018, while Hernandez's last appearances for Mexico came in 2019.
Wolverhampton Wanderers centre-forward Raul Jimenez has been included despite currently being injured, with it being clear that Martino wants to give him every chance of returning to full fitness before the World Cup begins.
Napoli winger Hirving Lozano will headline the team's attack in Qatar, with it already being four years since his debut at the tournament in Russia in 2018, where he impressed before securing a move to Serie A in 2019.
Ronaldo Does Not Want Messi To Win The World Cup
Mexico were drawn in Group C alongside Argentina, Saudi Arabian and Poland for the tournament.
You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments
WATCH VIDEO: