Best U23 Young Centre-Backs in the Liga MX
13 players aged 23 or under · ranked by Analytical Strength Score
Best Young Centre-Backs in the Liga MX (Apr 2026)
Ranked by Analytical Strength Score
Market Overview: Liga MX Young Centre-Backs 2024-25
Our database tracked 13 Liga MX Young Centre-Backs in the 2024-25 season, representing 11 clubs with a combined market value of €11.4M. The average market value for Liga MX Young Centre-Backs was €881K, with the average age at 22.1 years old.
The most valuable young centre-back in the Liga MX was Eduardo Águila, worth €3.5M and played for Atlético de San Luis at 23 years old. The top 5 Young Centre-Backs averaged €1.6M in market value, including Valentín Gauthier and Luis Gabriel Rey.
Age distribution showed the youngest tracked young centre-back was José Pachuca (20 years, Puebla FC, €200K), while the oldest was Eduardo Águila (23 years, Atlético de San Luis, €3.5M). Research shows Young Centre-Backs typically peak at age 27.
Historical analysis showed 13 Young Centre-Backs (100%) increased in market value over the following 12 months based on age-curve trajectories, then-current performance trends, and playing time analysis. The Liga MX market for Young Centre-Backs remained actively developing with emerging talent in the 2024-25 season.
💡 Use the search bar below to find specific players, or apply filters to narrow results by club, age range, or market value. Click the chart icon next to any player to view their historical value trajectory and forecast.
Explore Market Size by Position in Liga MX
Interactive bubble chart showing predicted 2-year growth vs current age for all Liga MX Young Centre-Backs. Identify undervalued assets and track market momentum across 11 clubs with €11.4M combined value.
Age Distribution: Liga MX Young Centre-Backs
The Liga MX CB market shows 2 distinct age segments, with the largest cohort in the 21-23 bracket (12 players, 92% of market). The 21-23 age group holds the most value at €11.3M, averaging €938K per player.
Top Young Centre-Backs by Age Bracket
U21 Years (1 players)
21-23 Years (12 players)
Market Value Distribution
Elite Tier Concentration
The top 2 Young Centre-Backs (15% of players) control €5.0M
Market Tiers
Market structure shows concentrated value with emerging (<€5m) tier representing 100% of the Liga MX CB pool.
Emerging (<€5M)
Club Distribution: Liga MX Young Centre-Backs
Among 11 Liga MX clubs, Atlético de San Luis leads with 2 Young Centre-Backs worth €4.0M (averaging €2.0M per player). The top 10 clubs account for 92% of tracked Young Centre-Backs.
Atlético de San Luis (2 Young Centre-Backs)
Club León FC (1 Young Centre-Backs)
Puebla FC (2 Young Centre-Backs)
Deportivo Guadalajara (1 Young Centre-Backs)
Player Rankings
Ranked by APE Strength Score. Click any player to view full profile, or click the chart icon to see value history.
Eduardo Águila
Atlético de San Luis • 23 years old
€3.0M
€3.5M
+15.6%
Expected: €3.7M
48.4
Valentín Gauthier
Club León FC • 22 years old
€1.3M
€1.5M
+15.6%
Expected: €1.6M
33.7
Luis Gabriel Rey
Puebla FC • 23 years old
€865K
€1.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €1.1M
29.2
Raúl Martínez
Deportivo Guadalajara • 23 years old
€865K
€1.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €1.1M
29.2
Jorge Berlanga
CF Pachuca • 22 years old
€865K
€1.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €1.1M
28.6
Rafael Guerrero
Tigres UANL • 23 years old
€605K
€700K
+15.6%
Expected: €749K
24.8
Jesús Alcántar
Club Necaxa • 22 years old
€432K
€500K
+15.6%
Expected: €529K
20.0
Ramiro Franco
Club Tijuana • 22 years old
€432K
€500K
+15.6%
Expected: €529K
20.0
Everardo del Villar
Deportivo Toluca • 21 years old
€432K
€500K
+15.6%
Expected: €551K
19.4
Gabriel Martínez
Atlético de San Luis • 23 years old
€389K
€450K
+15.6%
Expected: €482K
19.3
Miguel Vázquez
CF América • 22 years old
€259K
€300K
+15.6%
Expected: €318K
13.6
Tony Leone
CF Monterrey • 21 years old
€259K
€300K
+15.6%
Expected: €331K
13.0
José Pachuca
Puebla FC • 20 years old
€173K
€200K
+15.6%
Expected: €229K
7.4
Scout Tools
Advanced analytics for scouting and recruitment decisions. Each tool provides unique insights into player value, potential, and market dynamics.
Pre-Peak Value Efficiency (PPVE)
Identifies pre-peak players offering exceptional value relative to their age bracket. Higher PPVE = better value.
Understanding Pre-Peak Value Efficiency (PPVE)
Atlético de San Luis's Eduardo Águila at 23 years old has the highest Pre-Peak Value Efficiency at 5.00×. That means Eduardo Águila is valued 5.00× higher than the median player in the 21-23 age bracket—representing exceptional value before reaching peak age.
In second is Club León FC's Valentín Gauthier, who is 22 years old, with a 2.14× PPVE. Third is Jorge Berlanga of CF Pachuca, who is 22 years old with a 1.43× PPVE.
How PPVE is calculated: PPVE compares a player's current market value to the median value of all players in their age bracket. A PPVE of 5.00× means the player is worth 400% more than typical players their age—making them high-value targets before they reach peak value.
PPVE by Age Bracket
| Rank | Player | Age | Bracket | Current Value | Bracket Median | PPVE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Eduardo Águila Atlético de San Luis | 23 | 21-23 | €3.5M | €700K | 5.00× |
| #2 | Valentín Gauthier Club León FC | 22 | 21-23 | €1.5M | €700K | 2.14× |
| #3 | Jorge Berlanga CF Pachuca | 22 | 21-23 | €1.0M | €700K | 1.43× |
| #4 | Luis Gabriel Rey Puebla FC | 23 | 21-23 | €1.0M | €700K | 1.43× |
| #5 | Raúl Martínez Deportivo Guadalajara | 23 | 21-23 | €1.0M | €700K | 1.43× |
| #6 | José Pachuca Puebla FC | 20 | U21 | €200K | €200K | 1.00× |
| #7 | Rafael Guerrero Tigres UANL | 23 | 21-23 | €700K | €700K | 1.00× |
| #8 | Ramiro Franco Club Tijuana | 22 | 21-23 | €500K | €700K | 0.71× |
| #9 | Jesús Alcántar Club Necaxa | 22 | 21-23 | €500K | €700K | 0.71× |
| #10 | Everardo del Villar Deportivo Toluca | 21 | 21-23 | €500K | €700K | 0.71× |
| #11 | Gabriel Martínez Atlético de San Luis | 23 | 21-23 | €450K | €700K | 0.64× |
| #12 | Miguel Vázquez CF América | 22 | 21-23 | €300K | €700K | 0.43× |
| #13 | Tony Leone CF Monterrey | 21 | 21-23 | €300K | €700K | 0.43× |
Return-to-Peak Potential (RPP)
Recovery potential from current value to forecasted peak. Shows how much upside remains for players approaching their prime.
Understanding Return-to-Peak Potential (RPP)
Puebla FC's José Pachuca at 20 years old has the highest Return-to-Peak Potential at +35%. That means José Pachuca is projected to appreciate 35% as they reach their peak age in 6 years—representing significant upside before entering their prime.
In second is Deportivo Toluca's Everardo del Villar, who is 21 years old, with a +30% RPP (5 years to peak). Third is Tony Leone of CF Monterrey, who is 21 years old with a +30% RPP (5 years to peak).
How RPP is calculated: RPP compares a player's current market value to their forecasted peak value, calculating the percentage appreciation potential. A 35% RPP means the player is expected to gain 35% value as they enter their prime—making them excellent growth investments.
Recovery Potential by Player
| Rank | Player | Age | Years to Peak | Current | Peak Forecast | RPP % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | José Pachuca Puebla FC | 20 | 6 | €200K | €309K | +35% |
| #2 | Everardo del Villar Deportivo Toluca | 21 | 5 | €500K | €719K | +30% |
| #3 | Tony Leone CF Monterrey | 21 | 5 | €300K | €431K | +30% |
| #4 | Miguel Vázquez CF América | 22 | 4 | €300K | €401K | +25% |
| #5 | Ramiro Franco Club Tijuana | 22 | 4 | €500K | €668K | +25% |
| #6 | Jorge Berlanga CF Pachuca | 22 | 4 | €1.0M | €1.3M | +25% |
| #7 | Jesús Alcántar Club Necaxa | 22 | 4 | €500K | €668K | +25% |
| #8 | Valentín Gauthier Club León FC | 22 | 4 | €1.5M | €2.0M | +25% |
| #9 | Rafael Guerrero Tigres UANL | 23 | 3 | €700K | €870K | +20% |
| #10 | Luis Gabriel Rey Puebla FC | 23 | 3 | €1.0M | €1.2M | +20% |
| #11 | Raúl Martínez Deportivo Guadalajara | 23 | 3 | €1.0M | €1.2M | +20% |
| #12 | Gabriel Martínez Atlético de San Luis | 23 | 3 | €450K | €559K | +20% |
| #13 | Eduardo Águila Atlético de San Luis | 23 | 3 | €3.5M | €4.4M | +20% |
Risk-Adjusted Upside (RAU)
Upside potential weighted against forecast uncertainty. Higher RAU = better risk-reward profile.
Understanding Risk-Adjusted Upside (RAU)
Puebla FC's José Pachuca has the highest Risk-Adjusted Upside at 46.3. That means José Pachuca has 15% upside potential with only 0% forecast uncertainty—representing excellent risk-reward for value appreciation.
In second is CF Monterrey's Tony Leone with a 33.7 RAU (10% upside, 0% uncertainty). Third is Everardo del Villar of Deportivo Toluca with a 33.7 RAU (10% upside, 0% uncertainty).
How RAU is calculated: RAU divides upside potential by forecast uncertainty (RAU = Upside % ÷ Uncertainty %). A RAU of 46.3 means the upside is 46.3× greater than the uncertainty—making it a high-confidence growth opportunity. Target RAU ≥2.0 for balanced risk-reward.
Risk-Adjusted Upside by Player
| Rank | Player | Expected | Range | Upside % | RAU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | José Pachuca Puebla FC | €229K | €198K-261K | +15% | 46.3 |
| #2 | Tony Leone CF Monterrey | €331K | €285K-376K | +10% | 33.7 |
| #3 | Everardo del Villar Deportivo Toluca | €551K | €475K-627K | +10% | 33.7 |
| #4 | Luis Gabriel Rey Puebla FC | €1.1M | €942K-1.2M | +7% | 27.5 |
| #5 | Raúl Martínez Deportivo Guadalajara | €1.1M | €942K-1.2M | +7% | 27.5 |
| #6 | Eduardo Águila Atlético de San Luis | €3.7M | €3.3M-4.2M | +7% | 27.5 |
| #7 | Gabriel Martínez Atlético de San Luis | €482K | €424K-540K | +7% | 27.5 |
| #8 | Rafael Guerrero Tigres UANL | €749K | €660K-839K | +7% | 27.5 |
| #9 | Miguel Vázquez CF América | €318K | €279K-356K | +6% | 23.0 |
| #10 | Ramiro Franco Club Tijuana | €529K | €466K-593K | +6% | 23.0 |
| #11 | Jorge Berlanga CF Pachuca | €1.1M | €931K-1.2M | +6% | 23.0 |
| #12 | Jesús Alcántar Club Necaxa | €529K | €466K-593K | +6% | 23.0 |
| #13 | Valentín Gauthier Club León FC | €1.6M | €1.4M-1.8M | +6% | 23.0 |
Roster Pressure Index (RPI)
Squad depth pressure based on Z-score distribution. Negative RPI = thin depth, positive = deep roster.
What This Shows
Z-Score explained: Measures how many standard deviations a player's strength is from the position average. Z-Score = 0 means average, +1.0 is one standard deviation above average, -1.0 is below average.
How to use: RPI < -1.0 indicates critical depth shortage. These positions need immediate reinforcement. RPI > +1.0 suggests strong depth, allowing selective, high-value additions only.
Current market: young centre-back position shows strong depth (avg Z-score: 0.00). RPI: 0.00.
Position Depth Analysis
Highest Z-Scores
Lowest Z-Scores
Age-Share Concentration (ASC)
Identifies players capturing disproportionate value relative to age group representation. Positive ASC = value concentration.
Understanding Age-Share Concentration (ASC)
CF América's Miguel Vázquez in the 21-23 age bracket has the highest Age-Share Concentration at +5.9%. That means Eduardo Águila captures 98.3% of total market value while representing only 92.3% of players in their age group—showing dominant elite status.
In second is Club León FC's Valentín Gauthier with a +5.9% ASC (98.3% value share vs 92.3% player share in 21-23 bracket). Third is Eduardo Águila of Atlético de San Luis with a +5.9% ASC (98.3% value vs 92.3% players in 21-23 bracket).
How ASC is calculated: ASC = (% of total value) - (% of total players) in age bracket. A +5.9% ASC means the player captures 5.9% more market value than their numerical representation—indicating marquee status. ASC > +15% = elite dominance, ASC < -15% = potential value targets.
Value Concentration by Player
| Rank | Player | Age Bracket | Value Share | Player Share | ASC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Miguel Vázquez CF América | 21-23 | 98.3% | 92.3% | +5.9% |
| #2 | Valentín Gauthier Club León FC | 21-23 | 98.3% | 92.3% | +5.9% |
| #3 | Eduardo Águila Atlético de San Luis | 21-23 | 98.3% | 92.3% | +5.9% |
| #4 | Ramiro Franco Club Tijuana | 21-23 | 98.3% | 92.3% | +5.9% |
| #5 | Jorge Berlanga CF Pachuca | 21-23 | 98.3% | 92.3% | +5.9% |
| #6 | Luis Gabriel Rey Puebla FC | 21-23 | 98.3% | 92.3% | +5.9% |
| #7 | Raúl Martínez Deportivo Guadalajara | 21-23 | 98.3% | 92.3% | +5.9% |
| #8 | Gabriel Martínez Atlético de San Luis | 21-23 | 98.3% | 92.3% | +5.9% |
| #9 | Tony Leone CF Monterrey | 21-23 | 98.3% | 92.3% | +5.9% |
| #10 | Jesús Alcántar Club Necaxa | 21-23 | 98.3% | 92.3% | +5.9% |
| #11 | Everardo del Villar Deportivo Toluca | 21-23 | 98.3% | 92.3% | +5.9% |
| #12 | Rafael Guerrero Tigres UANL | 21-23 | 98.3% | 92.3% | +5.9% |
| #13 | José Pachuca Puebla FC | U21 | 1.7% | 7.7% | -5.9% |
Buy-Now vs Wait-List Map
Categorizes players by age position and upside potential to guide timing of acquisition.
What This Shows
How to use: "Buy Now - High Upside" = immediate priority targets. "Watch List" = monitor for 6-12 months. "Peak" = pay premium for proven performers. "Aging" = short-term depth only.
Current market: 0 immediate targets, 13 standard acquisitions, 0 watch-list prospects, 0 at peak.
BUY NOW - High Upside
No players in this category
WATCH LIST - High Upside
No players in this category
BUY NOW - Medium Upside
PEAK Players
No players in this category
Price vs Peer Z-Score
IQR-based pricing analysis relative to position peers. Identifies over/undervalued players vs market.
What This Shows
How to use: Z-score < -1.5 = significantly undervalued (potential bargain). Z-score > +1.5 = premium pricing (requires strong justification). Within ±1.0 = fair market value.
Current market: Position median is €700K. 0 undervalued, 2 premium.
Value Positioning vs Peers
| Player | Market Value | Position Median | Z-Score | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Miguel Vázquez CF América | €300K | €500K | -0.80 | Good Value |
Tony Leone CF Monterrey | €300K | €500K | -0.80 | Good Value |
Gabriel Martínez Atlético de San Luis | €450K | €500K | -0.50 | Fair Value |
Ramiro Franco Club Tijuana | €500K | €500K | -0.40 | Fair Value |
Jesús Alcántar Club Necaxa | €500K | €500K | -0.40 | Fair Value |
Everardo del Villar Deportivo Toluca | €500K | €500K | -0.40 | Fair Value |
José Pachuca Puebla FC | €200K | €500K | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Rafael Guerrero Tigres UANL | €700K | €500K | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Jorge Berlanga CF Pachuca | €1.0M | €500K | +0.60 | Above Market |
Luis Gabriel Rey Puebla FC | €1.0M | €500K | +0.60 | Above Market |
Raúl Martínez Deportivo Guadalajara | €1.0M | €500K | +0.60 | Above Market |
Valentín Gauthier Club León FC | €1.5M | €500K | +1.60 | Premium |
Eduardo Águila Atlético de San Luis | €3.5M | €500K | +5.60 | Premium |
