Best U23 Young Midfielders in the Liga MX
6 players aged 23 or under · ranked by Analytical Strength Score
Best Young Midfielders in the Liga MX (Apr 2026)
Ranked by Analytical Strength Score
Market Overview: Liga MX Young Midfielders 2026-27
Our database tracked 6 Liga MX Young Midfielders in the 2026-27 season, representing 4 clubs with a combined market value of €7.7M. The average market value for Liga MX Young Midfielders was €1.3M, with the average age at 21.8 years old.
The most valuable young midfielder in the Liga MX was Andrés Montaño, worth €2.5M and played for CD Cruz Azul at 23 years old. The top 5 Young Midfielders averaged €1.5M in market value, including Sebastián Santos and Tomás Jacob.
Age distribution showed the youngest tracked young midfielder was Edison Gruezo (18 years, Querétaro FC, €300K), while the oldest was Andrés Montaño (23 years, CD Cruz Azul, €2.5M). Research shows Young Midfielders typically peak at age 26-27.
Historical analysis showed 6 Young Midfielders (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 Midfielders remained actively developing with emerging talent in the 2026-27 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 Midfielders. Identify undervalued assets and track market momentum across 4 clubs with €7.7M combined value.
Age Distribution: Liga MX Young Midfielders
The Liga MX CM market shows 2 distinct age segments, with the largest cohort in the 21-23 bracket (5 players, 83% of market). The 21-23 age group holds the most value at €7.4M, averaging €1.5M per player.
Top Young Midfielders by Age Bracket
U21 Years (1 players)
21-23 Years (5 players)
Market Value Distribution
Elite Tier Concentration
The top 1 Young Midfielders (17% of players) control €2.5M
Market Tiers
Market structure shows concentrated value with emerging (<€5m) tier representing 100% of the Liga MX CM pool.
Emerging (<€5M)
Club Distribution: Liga MX Young Midfielders
Among 4 Liga MX clubs, CD Cruz Azul leads with 2 Young Midfielders worth €2.7M (averaging €1.4M per player). The top 10 clubs account for 100% of tracked Young Midfielders.
CD Cruz Azul (2 Young Midfielders)
Club Necaxa (2 Young Midfielders)
Club León FC (1 Young Midfielders)
Querétaro FC (1 Young Midfielders)
Player Rankings
Ranked by APE Strength Score. Click any player to view full profile, or click the chart icon to see value history.
Andrés Montaño
CD Cruz Azul • 23 years old
€2.2M
€2.5M
+15.6%
Expected: €2.7M
40.6
Sebastián Santos
Club León FC • 23 years old
€1.7M
€2.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €2.1M
37.9
Tomás Jacob
Club Necaxa • 22 years old
€1.3M
€1.5M
+15.6%
Expected: €1.6M
33.7
Diego Gómez
Club Necaxa • 22 years old
€1.0M
€1.2M
+15.6%
Expected: €1.3M
30.9
Edison Gruezo
Querétaro FC • 18 years old
€259K
€300K
+15.6%
Expected: €370K
11.2
Cristian Jiménez
CD Cruz Azul • 23 years old
€173K
€200K
+15.6%
Expected: €214K
9.2
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)
CD Cruz Azul's Andrés Montaño at 23 years old has the highest Pre-Peak Value Efficiency at 1.67×. That means Andrés Montaño is valued 1.67× 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 Sebastián Santos, who is 23 years old, with a 1.33× PPVE. Third is Edison Gruezo of Querétaro FC, who is 18 years old with a 1.00× 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 1.67× means the player is worth 67% 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 | Andrés Montaño CD Cruz Azul | 23 | 21-23 | €2.5M | €1.5M | 1.67× |
| #2 | Sebastián Santos Club León FC | 23 | 21-23 | €2.0M | €1.5M | 1.33× |
| #3 | Edison Gruezo Querétaro FC | 18 | U21 | €300K | €300K | 1.00× |
| #4 | Tomás Jacob Club Necaxa | 22 | 21-23 | €1.5M | €1.5M | 1.00× |
| #5 | Diego Gómez Club Necaxa | 22 | 21-23 | €1.2M | €1.5M | 0.80× |
| #6 | Cristian Jiménez CD Cruz Azul | 23 | 21-23 | €200K | €1.5M | 0.13× |
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)
Querétaro FC's Edison Gruezo at 18 years old has the highest Return-to-Peak Potential at +44%. That means Edison Gruezo is projected to appreciate 44% as they reach their peak age in 8 years—representing significant upside before entering their prime.
In second is Club Necaxa's Diego Gómez, who is 22 years old, with a +25% RPP (4 years to peak). Third is Tomás Jacob of Club Necaxa, who is 22 years old with a +25% RPP (4 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 44% RPP means the player is expected to gain 44% 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 | Edison Gruezo Querétaro FC | 18 | 8 | €300K | €536K | +44% |
| #2 | Diego Gómez Club Necaxa | 22 | 4 | €1.2M | €1.6M | +25% |
| #3 | Tomás Jacob Club Necaxa | 22 | 4 | €1.5M | €2.0M | +25% |
| #4 | Andrés Montaño CD Cruz Azul | 23 | 3 | €2.5M | €3.1M | +20% |
| #5 | Sebastián Santos Club León FC | 23 | 3 | €2.0M | €2.5M | +20% |
| #6 | Cristian Jiménez CD Cruz Azul | 23 | 3 | €200K | €249K | +20% |
Risk-Adjusted Upside (RAU)
Upside potential weighted against forecast uncertainty. Higher RAU = better risk-reward profile.
Understanding Risk-Adjusted Upside (RAU)
Querétaro FC's Edison Gruezo has the highest Risk-Adjusted Upside at 68.9. That means Edison Gruezo has 23% upside potential with only 0% forecast uncertainty—representing excellent risk-reward for value appreciation.
In second is Club León FC's Sebastián Santos with a 27.5 RAU (7% upside, 0% uncertainty). Third is Andrés Montaño of CD Cruz Azul with a 27.5 RAU (7% upside, 0% uncertainty).
How RAU is calculated: RAU divides upside potential by forecast uncertainty (RAU = Upside % ÷ Uncertainty %). A RAU of 68.9 means the upside is 68.9× 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 | Edison Gruezo Querétaro FC | €370K | €319K-422K | +23% | 68.9 |
| #2 | Sebastián Santos Club León FC | €2.1M | €1.9M-2.4M | +7% | 27.5 |
| #3 | Andrés Montaño CD Cruz Azul | €2.7M | €2.4M-3.0M | +7% | 27.5 |
| #4 | Cristian Jiménez CD Cruz Azul | €214K | €188K-240K | +7% | 27.5 |
| #5 | Diego Gómez Club Necaxa | €1.3M | €1.1M-1.4M | +6% | 23.0 |
| #6 | Tomás Jacob Club Necaxa | €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 midfielder position shows weak 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)
Querétaro FC's Edison Gruezo in the U21 age bracket has the highest Age-Share Concentration at +-12.8%. That means Edison Gruezo captures 3.9% of total market value while representing only 16.7% of players in their age group—showing dominant elite status.
In second is Club León FC's Sebastián Santos with a +12.8% ASC (96.1% value share vs 83.3% player share in 21-23 bracket). Third is Cristian Jiménez of CD Cruz Azul with a +12.8% ASC (96.1% value vs 83.3% players in 21-23 bracket).
How ASC is calculated: ASC = (% of total value) - (% of total players) in age bracket. A +-12.8% ASC means the player captures -12.8% 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 | Edison Gruezo Querétaro FC | U21 | 3.9% | 16.7% | -12.8% |
| #2 | Sebastián Santos Club León FC | 21-23 | 96.1% | 83.3% | +12.8% |
| #3 | Cristian Jiménez CD Cruz Azul | 21-23 | 96.1% | 83.3% | +12.8% |
| #4 | Tomás Jacob Club Necaxa | 21-23 | 96.1% | 83.3% | +12.8% |
| #5 | Diego Gómez Club Necaxa | 21-23 | 96.1% | 83.3% | +12.8% |
| #6 | Andrés Montaño CD Cruz Azul | 21-23 | 96.1% | 83.3% | +12.8% |
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: 1 immediate targets, 5 standard acquisitions, 0 watch-list prospects, 0 at peak.
BUY NOW - High Upside
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 €1.5M. 1 undervalued, 0 premium.
Value Positioning vs Peers
| Player | Market Value | Position Median | Z-Score | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Cristian Jiménez CD Cruz Azul | €200K | €1.5M | -1.63 | Undervalued |
Diego Gómez Club Necaxa | €1.2M | €1.5M | -0.38 | Fair Value |
Edison Gruezo Querétaro FC | €300K | €1.5M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Tomás Jacob Club Necaxa | €1.5M | €1.5M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Sebastián Santos Club León FC | €2.0M | €1.5M | +0.63 | Above Market |
Andrés Montaño CD Cruz Azul | €2.5M | €1.5M | +1.25 | Above Market |