Next up in our Wonderkids series is someone a little different. Someone who is not currently in Europe but will hopefully make the move very soon as they are absolutely lighting it up in their respective domestic league and has just this week made their international debut at the tender age of 16.
🔍 Methodology
As usual, I try to keep it relatively simple for these ones, trying to remain positionally agnostic while looking for a core set of metrics:
– Get on the ball a lot
– Progress the ball forward with forward passing or carrying (or both)
– Keep possession well
Basically, we want to see which youngsters aren’t afraid to mix it in senior football.
💎The gem of Tijuana: Gilberto Mora
Meet Gilberto Mora, 16-year-old Mexican wonderkid, currently plying his trade as an Attacking Midfielder for Tijuana in Liga MX.
Youngest goal scorer in Liga MX history (aged 15), already called up to Mexico senior national team for the Gold Cup.
He’s not just good. He’s outrageously good. And the stats back it up.
His short-range passing is already at an elite level, both attempting and completing short passes in the 91st percentile against all other midfielders in the next 14 leagues (which includes leagues like the Dutch Eredivisie, Portuguese, Primeira Liga, English Championship, and the Belgian Pro League).
But where he really stands out is ball carrying:
🌟99th percentile for progressive carries
🌟99th percentile for carries into the final third
🌟99th percentile for carries into the box
🌟99th percentile for progressive passes received
I really can’t put it into much plainer language than saying he is world class at driving the ball forward in the final third. That’s it.
🎯Final third menace
But it’s not just about carrying it into danger, Mora makes it count when it gets there. He ranks in the 91st percentile for shot-creating actions. When he drives forward, it ends in chances.
👀The eye-test
Watch him for five minutes and you’ll see:
🌟Silky first touch
🌟Vision and awareness beyond his years
🌟Constant scanning, always looking to play forward
🌟Tight close control
🌟Beautifully weighted passes
Yes, he dwells on the ball a little, and yes Liga MX gives him more time than he’ll get in Europe, but the raw traits are there.
⚠️*Areas for development*
Of course he’s not the finished article. He’s 16. But here’s what needs work:
– 1st percentile for touches outside the final third – he’s not involved in deeper build-up or defensive shape. If he’s to make it in Europe, he’ll need to add more layers to his game.
– 4th percentile for ball retention – too many miscontrols and losses. Understandable, but still something to flag.
– 1st percentile for aerial duels – the physical side of his game just isn’t there yet. Time and gym work will help.
✅Verdict
Well, this wouldn’t be much a ‘Wonderkid’ series if I wasn’t predicting the kid to go right to the very top. But that is exactly where he’s going.
Barcelona, Real Madrid or Manchester City, they’ll all be watching him.
Remember the name: Gilberto Mora. You’re going to hear a lot more about him in the years to come.
