Francisco Acuña was once an exciting young prospect for Tigres UANL, who seemed talented enough to receive the nickname “Messi”. The Mexican midfielder received recognition after shining in a match for Tigres UANL against arch rivals Monterrey back in 2008.
Since then, the Sonora native has not been able to live up to the standards of his nickname but has had an intriguing career in the Liga MX and the Ascenso MX. Acuña has said that he does not like his nickname recently and is at another stage of his career. The now 29-year-old has been with Puebla since the Clausura 2017 tournament and is yet to land a consistent starting role.
However, when Acuña does receive a chance to play he is easily one of the most entertaining players to watch in the Liga MX. “Paco” just received his first start under new manager Enrique Meza in Puebla’s 3-0 win against Pumas UNAM and he did not disappoint with one of his best recent performances.
The Mexican midfielder finished the game with a goal, a 90-percent pass accuracy, two crosses, two long balls, two dribbles, eight out of 12 duels won and two interceptions. Acuña was all over the pitch and did not stop throughout the 90 minutes helping both offensively and defensively. These are the type of stats you get on a perfect day for “Paco” but this is not seen often what is seen in every minute he plays is his effort and engine-type mentality.
The 29-year-old has the spirit of the most successful players in the world and on his day can compete against any back line in the Liga MX. Hopefully, Acuña can keep on getting minutes for Puebla to showcase his talents and his entertainment value, which is one of the best in the Liga MX.
