Mexico coach Rafael Márquez said teen phenom Gilberto Mora is fit and "eligible" to take on the United States this Saturday after the star player dealt with ankle pain earlier this week.
"Gil was undergoing some routine tests, he was experiencing slight discomfort, but he is recovering quite well," said Márquez ahead of Saturday's friendly in Glendale, Arizona. "He is eligible for the next match."
On Wednesday, ESPN MX reported the ankle issue for the 17-year-old Club Tijuana player, noting that he was initially on observation for Mexico's rivalry game vs. the U.S. this weekend.
With the No. 10 ready for the upcoming high-profile regional clash, Márquez hopes to take steps forward in a new era for the national team, now with him in charge for the first time after taking over from former coach Javier Aguirre.
"Obviously, we all know what it means to face the United States, so it is sure to be a very competitive match," said the two-time UEFA Champions League winner. "We are seeing a very competitive U.S. team as well, so it will certainly serve the purpose of what we are looking to achieve."
Heading into the weekend, Mexico have a 0W-2D-0L record following back-to-back 1-1 draws against Colombia and Peru in a new era under their coach. Regarding this transition, El Tri's latest coach called for patience in his early days.
"As I said from the start, this is a process. We have to keep working and keep improving. Hopefully, in this match in which we'll see some improvements," stated Márquez.
Mexico, at the moment, have bragging rights in the Concacaf region after claiming not only the 2024-25 Nations League championship, but also the 2025 Gold Cup in which El Tri surpassed the U.S. 2-1.