With the growing possibility of Keylor Navas joining Pumas as their new goalkeeper and Luka Jovic becoming the star striker at Cruz Azul, Liga MX could soon gather an impressive list of players who once wore the Real Madrid jersey. The Costa Rican keeper and the Serbian forward would join an already star-studded group featuring Sergio Ramos, James Rodríguez, Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernández, Sergio Canales, and Álvaro Fidalgo.

Liga MX is becoming increasingly attractive to former Madrid stars

During the Clausura 2025 tournament, Mexican football reached a historic milestone by featuring five players who had, at some point in their careers, played at least one official match for the most successful club of all time, Real Madrid of LaLiga in Spain.

Who are the five former Real Madrid players currently in Liga MX?

In that tournament, the arrival of Colombian midfielder James Rodríguez at León and the surprising signing of Sergio Ramos by Monterrey were added to the already established presence of Álvaro Fidalgo at Club América. In addition, Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernández returned to play for Chivas de Guadalajara, while Sergio Canales also joined the Rayados, strengthening an already stacked squad known as the Pandilla del Cerro de la Silla.

Many believed the record of five former Real Madrid players in Liga MX would be hard to match for years to come. However, for the Apertura 2025, not only have all five remained, but a sixth player is nearly confirmed — and a seventhhas a legitimate chance of landing in Mexico very soon.

Liga MX: A new hotspot for European stars

There’s no doubt that Liga MX has become an ideal destination for players who once represented Real Madrid. And it’s highly likely that more footballers not only from Los Blancos but from other top European clubs will begin to view the Mexican league as a serious and attractive option to continue their professional careers.