At 19 years old, Santiago Sandoval is living one of the most important chapters of his career: he was called up for the first time to the senior Mexican National Team roster, under Rafael Márquez's first list as coach of El Tricolor. The call-up comes after a meteoric rise with Chivas, where he established himself as one of the young revelations of Mexican football. Sandoval had already been part of youth processes and was an important player in securing qualification for the 2028 Olympic Games; furthermore, in the Clausura 2026, he scored a brace against Tigres that propelled Guadalajara to the semifinals. His current form is also backed by his performances in the Apertura 2026, which is why Márquez decided to include him among the 30 called up for the friendlies against Colombia, Peru, the United States, and Chile.

But behind the Tricolor jersey lies a family story marked by absence. Santiago is the son of Luis Alonso “El Negro” Sandoval, a former footballer who debuted with Chivas and later played for clubs including Atlas, América, Monterrey, Morelia, and Necaxa. However, Santiago himself has shared that he barely interacted with his father after his first year of life and that it was his mother, Lluvia González, who raised four children. “Thanks to her, I am where I am,” stated the footballer, who has also explained that during his development, he had to deal with comments from those who claimed he was in the youth academy because he was the son of a former player. His family story contrasts with other cases of young footballers who receive direct support from their fathers from the beginning; in Sandoval's case, his own family has pointed to his mother and siblings as fundamental to his journey.

That's why this call-up has a special meaning for Santiago: it represents not only the recognition of his talent but also the culmination of years of work built far from his father's support and with the backing of his mother and siblings. His path began in the Chivas youth academy, went through the youth and Tapatío categories, until he reached the first team, where he debuted in July 2025 at just 17 years old. Now, after being a key player for El Rebaño and demonstrating his ability in youth processes, Sandoval receives the opportunity to wear the Mexico jersey alongside players like Armando “Hormiga” González. The image of Santiago crying with emotion, surrounded by his family after learning of the call-up, summarizes a story where the inherited surname ceased to be the most important thing: the call to El Tri came because of what he himself has built on the field.