Gilberto Mora will take on the number 10 jersey for the Mexican National Team at the start of the process led by Rafael Márquez, after wearing number 19 in the 2026 World Cup. The change comes with the absence of Alexis Vega, who had worn the '10' in the Tricolor's recent matches. The jersey carries special significance in Mexican football, traditionally associated with the player responsible for playmaking, leading attacks, and providing creativity in the final third. In World Cups, this number has been worn by stars such as Luis García, Cuauhtémoc Blanco, Guillermo Franco, Giovani dos Santos, and Alexis Vega.

Mora inherits the number at just 17 years old, but with a track record that supports his growing prominence. The Xolos de Tijuana player already has 12 caps for the Mexican National Team and played four matches in the 2026 World Cup, accumulating 215 minutes of playing time and three starts, against Czechia, Ecuador, and England. Furthermore, he became the youngest Mexican to play in a World Cup and the youngest national player to start a knockout stage World Cup match, doing so against Ecuador at 17 years and 259 days old.

The new '10' also boasts international experience despite his young age: he was part of the squad that won the 2025 Gold Cup and became, at 16 years and 265 days old, the youngest player to win an international senior team tournament. With Xolos, he also debuted in Liga MX at 15 years old and scored his first goal a few days later, becoming the youngest scorer in the history of the Mexican First Division. Now, Mora will debut the emblematic jersey against Colombia on September 26th in Baltimore, in the first match of the Rafa Márquez era, followed by games against Peru, the United States, and Chile.