After two defeats in finals, Edson Álvarez finally tasted silverware with the Mexico national team, captaining his side to CONCACAF Nations League success in the most recent international break.
In the previous three editions, Mexico had lost to the USA twice in the final and once in the semi-finals. The 2021 showpiece was a particularly bitter experience, with El Tri having led twice only to be defeated in extra-time.
But, after seeing off Canada in the last four this time around, Javier Aguirre's men scored a dramatic 2-1 win over Panama in the final, thanks to Raúl Jiménez's stoppage-time penalty, to claim the coveted Nations League title for the first time.
An incredibly proud moment for Álvarez, who with 85 caps moves into the top 30 appearance makers for his country ever, the 27-year-old described lifting the trophy in front of 70,000 spectators as one of the most beautiful moments of his life.
“It’s a moment that will stay in my memory forever,” Álvarez reflected. “Lifting my first trophy as captain and also Mexico’s first in the Nations League was an incredible moment. It’s one of the most beautiful moments of my life so far.
“It means more having lost twice in the final. Now as captain, it's a very special moment.”
Eight years after his senior debut as a 19-year-old and six years after Gold Cup success, Álvarez has now firmly etched his name in Mexico national team folklore. Following their Nations League triumph, he and his teammates now shift their attention to an even bigger stage, the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where Mexico will be co-hosts.
“It’s been a long journey,” Álvarez continued. “I came through the youth teams, U18s and U20s, before getting my first senior call-up, which was a dream come true. Since then, I’ve been fortunate to play in Gold Cups, World Cups, and now the Nations League. It’s been a challenging but beautiful road.
“Representing your country brings a different pressure, knowing an entire nation is watching you. I enjoy it a lot, I'm grateful for all the experiences I've had there. And now I think the main focus is of course the World Cup, in our home country!"
But for now, Álvarez’s focus is firmly on domestic duties, as West Ham United look to finish the season on a high under boss Graham Potter, despite a frustrating 1-0 midweek defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
“Our last game was a tough pill to swallow,” Álvarez admitted. “It wasn’t what we wanted or needed. But the good thing about football is the chance to put things right quickly, in front of our fans, with our people. We know it’s a very important game to get back to winning ways and keep building confidence.”
Despite losing four of their last five league games, Saturday’s opponents AFC Bournemouth remain firmly in the hunt for European football, something that doesn’t surprise Álvarez, given the competitiveness of the Premier League.
He added: “It doesn’t surprise me. All the teams in the Premier League have improved a lot in recent years, and Bournemouth are one of them. They’re very clear about their style of play and dangerous on the counter-attack. I like seeing teams like Bournemouth or Nottingham Forest succeed; it shows how competitive this league is. Anyone can win and achieve great things.”
