A career marked by talent and controversial decisions
On Tuesday, Carlos Vela, one of the most talented Mexican soccer players of his generation, officially announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 36. This closure comes after seven months of inactivity, culminating a 19-year career that included participation in two World Cups, although also notable absences in other World Cup events due to personal choice.
From Cancún to the international elite
Originally from Cancún, Vela trained in the Chivas youth team, although he never debuted in the Mexican first division. His potential took him to English Arsenal in 2005, a club that loaned him to Spanish Salamanca, where he made his professional debut in 2006. In Europe, he also wore the shirts of Osasuna and Real Sociedad, a team in which he remained for seven seasons and consolidated his reputation as a lethal striker.
His return to England included brief spells at West Bromwich, but it was in the Major League Soccer (MLS) where he wrote his most glorious pages. Upon joining LAFC in 2018, Vela became a key figure: in 2019, he scored 34 goals, an all-time record in the American league, and was named Most Valuable Player. “This club means a lot to me and my family,” he said in his farewell.
Legacy and controversies with the Mexican team
Vela was U17 world champion in 2005, which predicted a promising future with El Tri. However, his relationship with the senior team was ambivalent. He participated in the World Cups in South Africa 2010 and Russia 2018, but rejected calls for Brazil 2014 and Qatar 2022, decisions that generated criticism among fans and experts. Despite this, he won two Gold Cups (2009 and 2015) with Mexico.
A farewell with recognition
His last game was on October 27, 2024 against Vancouver Whitecaps. Following his announcement, LAFC named him an ambassador and will pay tribute to him on September 21. “There are no words to thank the fans for their support,” said Vela, who will continue to be linked to soccer from Los Angeles, the city he adopted as his home.
This retirement closes a complex chapter: a brilliant player whose career was as defined by his goals as by his choices off the field. His legacy in the MLS and his impact on Mexican soccer will continue to be topics of analysis in the coming years.
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