Andres Guardado, who has the most caps in his nation’s history, will walk away from soccer when his club season ends
Mexico national team legend Andre Guardado is set to walk away from soccer at the end of the season, he announced via Instagram. The Leon midfielder is the most capped player in his national team’s history, and has made 627 club appearances over the course of a 19-year career. Guardrado, who captains his club, promised he will play for Leon until their season ends – which could be as early as Sunday if the Liga MX side fail to qualify for the league’s Play-In tournament.
The midfielder will walk away from the game as one of the most successful players in his national team’s history. Guardado spent 17 years in Europe, highlighted by stints at Deportivo, Valencia and Real Betis. He was part of the PSV squad that won two straight Eredivisie titles between 2014-16 along with two Johan Cruyff Shields, and won the 2022 Copa del Rey with Real Betis. He collected three Gold Cups for El Tri, and appeared in five World Cups.
Mexico marked his final national team appearance with an emotional send off, being substituted in the first half to widespread applause.
Guadrado took to Instagram to announce his decision: “I’m here, on the field of the Leon stadium, where I wanted to make public my decision to leave soccer after 19 years and to end my career as a professional player at the end of this season. We are still with a slight hope of playing in the Play-In, let’s hope it happens, but if it doesn’t Sunday will be my last game as a professional. I leave grateful and very proud of everything I was able to achieve, of having fulfilled my dream.”
The Leon captain will be in the squad as Leon take on Monterrey on Sunday. A heavy Atlas loss and convincing Leon win would be enough to carry the side into the Play In. Otherwise, it will be Guardado’s final professional game.
