Even before Alvaro Fidalgo played his first minutes for Mexico, Vega spoke highly of his presence in the national team, much like he did with Quiñones.
“Yes, for me, they are players who make an absolutely massive difference. Whenever I faced Quiñones, I knew he was a very important player; he has been here in Mexico for a long time. It’s the same with Fidalgo, a player who defined a very important era at America. No one doubts or denies the talent of those two players,” Vega told Fox Sports.
During his time at Club America, Fidalgo’s main supporter and mentor was Jonathan dos Santos. Jonathan’s time with the national team had its ups and downs. Unlike his brother, Giovani dos Santos, he did not accumulate many iconic moments with El Tri. But there was one night that still matters: the 2019 Gold Cup final against the United States.
In that game, Jonathan gave Mexico exactly what it needed from a midfielder: control, timing and one decisive action. His winning goal, finished after Jimenez’s backheel, gave Mexico a 1-0 victory.
That is not to say Fidalgo has to copy Jonathan’s career path. But there is something to learn from that version of the role. Mexico does not need Fidalgo to treat every possession as if it has to become spectacular. It needs him to give the team order, connect midfield with attack, and understand when to accelerate.
If Fidalgo can command stretches of the match the way Jonathan did in that final, his value becomes clear. He is not just another technical player. He can be someone capable of giving El Tri a calmer brain in the middle of a tense game.
Fidalgo needs minutes to better understand the speed, spacing, and responsibility of playing for Mexico. And after five years with Club America, many of them at Estadio Azteca, there is another layer to the story: he may soon have the chance to play a World Cup match in a stadium he knows well, but this time wearing El Tri’s green.
