Mexico's Jekyll and Hyde Show: El Tri's Explosive Yet Scoreless Battle Against Uruguay Reveals Shocking Contradictions

Mexico's national squad fought valiantly throughout the match but could only secure a goalless stalemate against Uruguay, prolonging their winless run to five consecutive games.

The encounter at Estadio Corona was a fierce, grinding, and physical battle, with meaningful action in both penalty boxes virtually absent. While Mexico held a slight edge across the full 90 minutes, goal-scoring chances for Javier Aguirre's team remained scarce.

Given the quality of their opposition, this result isn't entirely disappointing for Mexico. However, El Tri remains without a victory since claiming the 2025 Gold Cup title and has appeared disjointed in their offensive play throughout the summer months. Still, the strong character and defensive solidity under Aguirre's guidance continues to be evident.

This serves as an important examination for El Tri as they prepare for the 2026 World Cup, though anything short of victory against Paraguay this coming Tuesday in their final 2025 fixture would represent a significant letdown.

Here are Sports Illustrated's three key observations from Mexico's goalless stalemate with Uruguay.

The Defensive Core Stands as Mexico's Greatest Strength

The central defensive duo of Johan Vásquez and César Montes has emerged as Mexico's most reliable foundation; an element that elevates the team's competitive baseline and could potentially unlock Mexico's World Cup ambitions if performing at peak level.

Facing Uruguay, this partnership delivered an outstanding display. Aguirre showed courage by positioning his team high up the field, seeking to create opportunities through aggressive pressing and forcing mistakes. Consequently, Mexico's defensive line operated consistently near midfield with vast open spaces vulnerable behind them. This represented a daring approach, yet Vásquez and Montes executed it masterfully, limiting Uruguay to merely two shots on goal throughout the evening.

For extended periods, it appeared Aguirre was emulating Hansi Flick's signature high defensive positioning that he's implemented since arriving at Barcelona. However, unlike the Catalans who have struggled defensively this season, Vásquez and Montes flourished. The duo tracked attacking runs, cut out passes, and dominated physical battles all evening. Operating virtually isolated against Uruguay's forwards for most of the match, both defenders maintained perfect composure and delivered impeccable performances.

Excluding the devastating 4–0 loss to Colombia last month, El Tri's first-choice center-backs have performed excellently since Aguirre's tenure began. This pairing has also demonstrated versatility in their defensive approach, whether executing an attacking setup or maintaining a deep defensive block like they did against Canada in the Concacaf Nations League.

With this partnership in excellent form, Mexico can remain competitive in matches due to their typically stingy defensive record. This foundation provides El Tri with the platform to challenge any opponent next summer.

Blunt Offensive Play Represents a Critical Issue

Mexico's offensive struggles persisted against Uruguay. Yet again, El Tri appeared incapable of creating meaningful threats upon entering the attacking third.

Raúl Jiménez has shouldered the scoring responsibility throughout much of Aguirre's reign and has excelled recently in Mexico's colors. Nevertheless, when he's absent from the field or neutralized as he was versus Uruguay, the national team appears uninspired and genuinely incapable of finding the net.

El Tri has grown dependent on flashes of individual excellence to find goals. Aguirre, traditionally a defensively-oriented coach, has struggled to establish anything resembling a coherent attacking framework. Mexico has instead cultivated a Jiménez-reliance. The Fulham forward has netted 10 of El Tri's 20 goals in 2025. This approach simply cannot continue; other players must contribute more significantly.

Alexis Vega, Roberto Alvarado, Orbelín Pineda, Diego Lainez, Hirving Lozano and Julián Quiñones have all enjoyed productive campaigns with their respective clubs. Yet, they've all performed well below their peak standards when representing Mexico this year.

Discovering remedies for Mexico's concerning goal-scoring deficiencies must become Aguirre's primary objective leading up to the World Cup. Without addressing this fundamental problem, Mexico cannot realistically expect to advance far in the tournament.

Gilberto Mora Deserves a Starting Role for the World Cup

If Aguirre seeks to address Mexico's attacking deficiencies, then Gilberto Mora offered him a potential solution to begin working toward that objective. Put simply, El Tri's prodigious talent must feature in every crucial minute of Mexico's most significant matches.

The 17-year-old sensation proved to be the most threatening player for either team despite beginning the match as a substitute. Mora essentially played one half after replacing the injured Lozano just before halftime. During the second 45 minutes, he looked dangerous whenever he touched the ball.

Mora distinguishes himself from his teammates. When he possesses the ball, Mexico appears to be playing an entirely different game. Despite his youth, he represents Mexico's most impactful attacking weapon. Admittedly, he created only two opportunities against Uruguay, but that exceeded any other player's output on either side.

There's valid reasoning why numerous elite clubs worldwide are pursuing Mora's signature when he reaches the appropriate age. The Tijuana midfielder possesses attributes that no other player in Aguirre's squad can offer. He's a natural playmaker capable of transforming matches instantly. Mora possesses that je ne sais quoi, that spark of brilliance that makes him a genuine game-changer in the final third.

Amid the sterile mediocrity that characterized Mexico's attack against Uruguay, this gifted youngster provided a refreshing contrast. It's time for El Tri and Aguirre to stop handling Mora so cautiously. The truth is that regardless of his age and limited experience with just five senior appearances, Mexico performs optimally with Mora on the field and cannot afford to have him watching from the sidelines during the World Cup.