The Liga MX Apertura 2017 has come to an end and Tigres UANL emerged as the champions with the heroics from Colombian defender Francisco Meza. Colombian players have made an immense impact on the Liga MX as arguably the best player in the league is a Colombian-born player on Monterrey. Here is a rundown of the top five Colombian players, specifically in this past Liga MX Apertura 2017 tournament.
Honorable Mention: Francisco Meza
The Barranquilla native only started in five games throughout the Apertura 2017 regular season and only played six total games. However, he has to be mentioned on this list at least as an honorable mention as he scored the title-winning goal in the Liga MX Apertura 2017 final. The goal came off a header from a corner kick that secured Tigres’ sixth Liga MX title. Meza’s performance defensively in that game was also tremendous as he had nine clearances and six interceptions.
It is incredible that the 26-year-old managed to play the game of his life in a match he was not even supposed to start in. Meza was placed in the lineup to replace the suspended Hugo Ayala and is now a hero in the history of Tigres UANL
5.Andres Mosquera
Of course, the best Colombian players in the Liga MX are offensive players but there are some defensive gems in the Liga MX that are worth mentioning. Some of these players include fullback Brayan Angulo, who was easily Puebla’s best player in the Apertura 2017, Monterrey’s Stefan Medina and Oscar Murillo, who is one of the best defenders in the league. Leon’s Andres Mosquera stood above those players and any other Colombian defensive player as he had an outstanding debut season in the Liga MX with La Fiera. Including the playoffs, the 27-year-old had a goal and an assist, averaged one and a half interceptions per game, over four clearances per game and held a pass accuracy around 80-percent.
Mosquera was a rock in defense with his immense physical presence and proved to be very versatile as well as he started some games I the left back position.
4.Fernando Uribe
Uribe had one of the best seasons in his Liga MX career as he scored 10 goals between the regular season and the playoffs. The 29-year-old does not bring much else to the table except scoring goals as he has proven to be one of the most clinical finishers in the league. The former Atletico Nacional man did also have an assist and was dispossessed an average of less than once a game throughout the season. It has been rumored that some top teams like Club America are pursuing Uribe and it is well-deserved as he is one of the top strikers in Mexico.
3.Julian Quiñones
If I told you at the beginning of the season that a 20-year-old on a newly promoted team was going to be one of the top scorers in the Liga MX you would think I was crazy. Well, that is exactly what Julian Quiñones managed to do with Lobos BUAP as he scored nine goals and obtained two assists as well in the Apertura 2017.
The youngster also averaged three shots per game and it is impressive that he had such an incredible season with not much to work with around him. Quiñones is very quick and proved to be a very clinical finisher, it will be exciting to see how he progresses and keeps on getting better in the Liga MX.
2.Dorlan Pabon
Rayados failed to win the league title but were still the best team throughout the regular season and had one of the best rosters the league has seen. One of the main players that contributed to Monterrey’s success was Dorlan Pabon, who contributed with six goals and nine assists throughout the whole season. There are rumors linking the Medellin native to a move to Pachuca but he would be a big loss for Antonio Mohamed’s team even if Monterrey get someone like Jonathan Urretaviscaya in the deal.
1.Aviles Hurtado
There is only one player that can be at the top of this list and that is the best player of the Apertura 2017 and arguably the best player in Mexican soccer in 2017 as a whole, Aviles Hurtado. The 30-year-old just had the best season of his career with Monterrey netting 14 total goals and three assists in all games including the playoffs. Hurtado finished as the joint-top scorer in the Apertura 2017 regular season with 11 goals, same as Leon’s Mauro Boselli. The former Xolos’ player finally received a call to the Colombian national team because of his efforts and may very well feature in the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Hurtado has pace to burn, is very skillful, is a clinical finisher, is creative, has tremendous vision, has a decent physical presence and can just create magic with the ball at his feet.
