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Mexico national team prodigy Gilberto Mora took to social media to share encouraging news with El Tri supporters about his progress in recovering from injury.
El Tri is battling an injury crisis that poses a serious threat to its World Cup ambitions, and few setbacks loom as large as Mora's, with the youngster having been out of action since January.
The electrifying 17-year-old had a breakthrough 2025, becoming the youngest player in history to claim a senior international title during Mexico's 2025 Gold Cup victory, dazzling audiences at the U-20 World Cup, cementing his place as a regular starter for El Tri, and drawing attention from some of the world's most elite clubs.
However, 2026 has gotten off to a rough start for Mora, who has been dealing with a persistent groin condition known as Pubalgia, keeping him sidelined for more than two months. With fewer than 80 days remaining before Mexico's World Cup opener, the clock is ticking on Mora's return to full fitness.
Still, Mora's message of un poco más, meaning "a bit more," appears to suggest he is nearly ready to step back onto the field. Simply seeing him participating in on-field sessions is an encouraging sign, and Javier Aguirre will be hoping his teenage star is fit and available when Mexico's World Cup preparations begin in early May.
2026 World Cup Is Gilberto Mora's Priority
Information on Mora's injury status since he withdrew from Mexico's January camp has been scarce. As recently as mid-February, reports indicated there was still no definitive timeline for his comeback.
But with the teenager finally engaging in some form of on-pitch activity, a sense of optimism is beginning to build. He may be too far behind to contribute meaningfully to Tijuana's Liga MX Clausura 2026 playoff campaign, but even within the club, there is a shared understanding of what truly matters when it comes to Mora's rehabilitation.
"Gilito [Mora] is doing well," Tijuana manager Sebastián Abreu said over the weekend. "He's already doing work on the pitch with the ball. We're not in a hurry, we're not pushing him, because everyone at the club understands that the priority is for him to be in peak condition for [Mexico's] mini preseason ahead of the World Cup.
"It's likely he can get some minutes before the end of the [Clausura 2026] regular season, mainly to put any doubts to rest within the national team setup, so they can see he's in good shape, that he's playing and that he's fully recovered."
The level of focus surrounding Mora's recovery reflects just how vital he is to El Tri. Despite his young age, Mora possesses match-changing ability, something that has not gone unnoticed by the coach of one of the world's most prominent national teams.
Portugal Manager Roberto Martínez in Awe of Gilberto Mora
Portugal are set to face Mexico in an international friendly on March 28. In the buildup to the match, Portugal boss Roberto Martínez spoke with TUDN and, despite Mora's absence from the fixture, made a point of expressing how impressed he has been by the youngster's abilities.
"I'm very surprised and very pleased to witness a talent like Mora," Martínez said. "I'm glad he gets to play a role with the national team. I watched him closely during the U-20 World Cup, in the matches he played against Morocco and Spain — he really impressed me. This is how I see the Mexico national team: highly competitive and always welcoming to young talent."
Mora's outstanding showings at the 2025 U-20 World Cup attracted the interest of top European clubs who are eyeing a move for the gifted youngster once he reaches the appropriate age.
Aguirre will wait as long as it takes for the teenager to fully recover, as his rare natural ability is a weapon Mexico simply cannot do without this summer.
As Abreu put it: "There are people that are stars, Gil is a sun."