10 players you forgot played in Mexico including icons Ronaldinho and Guardiola
Europe remains the main hub for the best footballing action, but some players seek moves away for a whole host of reasons.
Homesickness from other continents can play a factor, as well as seeing out your career at a place that is close to your heart, or some opt for a different approach by seeking one big pay day before it's time to retire.
Usually America is the destination for this, with China also a common location in recent times, but a league that many forget about is just south of the US border.
The Mexican league goes below the radar but is a common meeting ground for some extremely talented stars, much to the surprise of many, with some of the biggest names making an appearance over the years.
Here Daily Star Sport take a look at ten stars you may not remember playing in Mexico…
Andre-Pierre Gignac
Andre-Pierre Gignac has been destroying the Mexican League since 2015, and the Frenchman has become an icon at Tigres for his dominance since arriving from Marseille.
Gignac was a prolific goal scorer in his native France for Lorient, Toulouse and Marseille, but departed for Tigres despite mass interest elsewhere in Europe,
The Frenchman has scored an incredible 152 league goals across 226 games for the Mexican club, and helped them win the north American version of the Champions League in 2020.
Despite now being 36, his contract was recently extended until 2024 by Tigres.
Ravel Morrison
Whereas Gignac moved to try something new, Ravel Morrison moved out of desperation as the troubled midfielder continues to waste the bags of potential he had at Manchester United.
Countless former United stars have said that Morrison was the biggest talent that they had seen, but his attitude played against him, hindering what could have been a glamorous career.
Morrison moved to Atlas on loan during the 2017/18 season and netted three times in 18 appearances for the Mexican outfit, before returning to parent club Lazio.
The midfielder is now a part of Wayne Rooney's Derby side, but the club look destined for relegation to League One due to troubles at the club.
Pep Guardiola
Many forget that Pep Guardiola actually ended his career in Mexico as he enjoyed one final season with Dorados ending in 2006.
The Barcelona legend spent 11 years in Catalonia before spending time with Brescia and Roma in Italy, and after a brief stint at Qatari side Al Ahli, joined Dorados.
Guardiola played with Dorados for six months, but was limited to just ten appearances due to injuries before he eventually retired, scoring one goal for the club.
The Spaniard has since become one of the most successful managers, mounting another title challenge with Manchester City this season.
Jeremy Menez
French forward Jeremy Menez was expected to be one of the next stars as he impressed for Monaco and Roma before heading to Paris Saint Germain in 2011.
Menez then left for AC Milan to continue his portfolio is high-profile clubs, but his career failed to revive itself after a failed move to Bordeaux in 2016.
Another unsuccessful move materialised as Menez joined Turkish side Antalyaspor, before heading to Club America in Mexico in 2018.
Menez scored five goals in 18 appearances for the club during a solo season, and now plays at Italian second divison side Reggina, scoring four goals since arriving in 2020.
Bernd Schuster
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German icon Bernd Schuster wrapped up a fabulous playing career in Mexico as he ended his playing days with PUMAS Unam in 1997.
The German played for both Barcelona and Real Madrid throughout the 80s, even playing alongside the likes of Diego Maradonna, before heading to Atletico Madrid to complete the clean sweep of the top Spanish sides.
Schuster won a total of 12 trophies in Spain and was even runner-up in the Ballon d'Or in 1980, before moving to Bayer Leverkusen in 1993.
The German retired at Pumas after a total of nine games for the club.
Florian Thauvin
Florian Thauvin may have been swayed by his former teammate Gignac as the Frenchman ended up joining Tigres in 2021.
Both starred alongside one another and were regularly on the fringes of the French national team together, but for now Thauvin has called time on his European days for an adventure in Mexico.
Thauvin has struggled when leaving his homeland as he failed to adjust to the Premier League with Newcastle in 2016, and moved back on loan to his former side after just one season.
However, he will be hoping for more success this time around, and had one goal after seven appearances so far.
Mauro Camoranesi
Juventus legend Mauro Camoranesi played in Mexico on two occasions before establishing himself in Serie A, as he featured for both Santos Laguna and Cruz Azul.
The Argentinian born winger fluctuated between a whole host of clubs across both north and south America before making the move to Italy when signing for Verona.
Camoranesi spent just one season at Verona before Juventus snapped him up in 2003, and that year marked his debut for the Italian national team as the player was eligible through dual citizenship.
The winger made a wise choice, as he collected a World Cup winners medal in 2006 as Italy beat France in the final.
Eusebio
Portuguese legend Eusebio moved to the Mexican League shortly after becoming one of the world's greatest ever player due to his heroics at Benfica.
The forward netted 317 times across 301 Portuguese League matches in what was an incredible achievement, and his brilliance helped Benfica to 30 trophies over a 14-year stint.
Eusebio rightly won the Ballon d'Or whilst playing for the Portuguese outfit, but after leaving in 1975, the Portuguese star headed for Monterrey, although his appearance was extremely brief.
The striker lasted a matter of months in Mexico before moving to Toronto.
Ronaldinho
Alongside the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldinho is one of the finest players to grace the game since the turn of the millennium, and after the Brazilian was done blessing Europe, he headed back for the America's.
After originally finding his form at Gremio, Ronaldinho starred at Paris Saint Germain, Barcelona and AC Milan before moving back to Brazil, but the generational talent spent a season at Mexican side Queretaro during the 2014/15 campaign.
25 league games returned eight goals for the Brazilian, but one season was enough as he moved back to Brazil shortly after.
Ronaldinho helped Queretaro to the final of the Liga MX, but they finished runners-up after a 5-3 defeat on aggregate to Santos Laguna.
Vincent Janssen
Premier League fans may be familiar with Vincent Janssen who joined Tottenham in 2016 as a back-up to Harry Kane, after impressing Mauricio Pochettino at AZ Alkmaar.
After being loaned out to Fenerbahce as his Tottenham career hit a snag, he returned without a squad number issued to his name, and the exit door beckoned for the Dutchman.
Janssen made a bold move and joined Monterrey in 2019, but the move has been a success as the Dutchman has been compared to Gignac in Mexico for his impact.
The former Spurs star has already won the Mexican League and north American Champions League with a dominant Monterrey, and was the top scorer during the 2019/20 Copa MX competition, which they won with ease.
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