Carlos Vela made his comeback to the Mexican national team on Wednesday in a friendly against the Netherlands and immediately got to work, scoring two goals in his first game with El Tri since March 2011.
Vela has always been a player with loads of talent, and while the story of him on the international level has been his previous estrangement from his national team – that included rejecting a call-up to the 2014 World Cup squad – his journey through the club scene has been full of ups and downs as well.
After seeing limited action after transferring to Arsenal in 2005, Vela, who won the Under-17 World Cup that year alongside current El Tri mainstays Giovani dos Santos and Hector Moreno, went on a series of loan stints and never seemed to settle down. Sounds a little like a certain American striker, doesn't it?
Unlike Jozy Altidore, however, Vela found a home at his last loan stop. He put down roots with Spanish club Real Sociedad, turning his back on yet another return to England. By making his stay in the Basque country permanent, Vela has reached heights few Mexican players have matched.
He may not have won an EPL title like Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez, but Vela has unquestionably been the most consistent Mexican player in Europe over the past four years. He's also played in the Champions League and carved out a place as a key contributor at a decent team in one of the best leagues in the world, potting 49 goals (and counting) while adding 31 assists along the way.
As anybody who follows North American players in Europe knows, finding a good club situation for players represents half the battle, possibly more. Is it better to be an automatic starter at Fulham, or to come off the bench at Tottenham? Would you rather pay your dues on Barcelona's B team, hoping to make the massive leap up to one of the world's true SuperClubs, or go to a less-talented first division team to get minutes? Mexico's dos Santos brothers – ultra-talented contemporaries of Vela – have been on both sides of the latter question, with each failing repeatedly before reuniting for a successful stint at another decent Spanish side, Villarreal.
Assuming Vela's return to the Mexican national team isn't a mirage, and he'll be on board in the months to come, his presence may swing the momentum back in Mexico's favor regarding the power balance in CONCACAF.
That's right, I'm calling it now: Mexico have to be considered favorites for the 2015 Gold Cup.
Vela's got an ability to hit a transcendent goal, something Mexico have lacked since Chicharito entered his sustained slump in 2013, and suddenly the depth at forward for El Tri is something to behold. Vela, Chicharito (who still isn't at his best but is scoring goals off the bench for Real Madrid), Raul Jimenez and Oribe Peralta all have shown an ability to score goals both mundane and spectacular. They've done it in friendlies and tournament finals. Gio dos Santos' dagger at the 2011 Gold Cup final is maybe the greatest in that tournament's history, while Vela personally eviscerated the US team in 2009.
They have that experience. And now they've added consistency at the club level as well.
Beyond that, Mexico have a bigger proportion of difference-makers in their peak playing years than the other usual CONCACAF suspects. Hector Herrera, Peralta and Jimenez, just to name a few, have all won Olympic gold. And unlike in 2013, Mexico will most likely send a full-strength squad to the next Gold Cup, since there's no Confederations Cup mucking up the summertime schedule.
That means the US path to a title defense won't be easy. Yes, Jurgen Klinsmann has been bullish in ushering in a new generation, and he didn't sacrifice all experience in the player pool in the process. He kept the likes of DaMarcus Beasley, Jermaine Jones and Kyle Beckerman in the lineup even as he brought Fabian Johnson, Julian Green and DeAndre Yedlin aboard.
And like Mexico, the US were knocked out in the Round of 16. Obviously, a lot happened between the 2012 Olympics – when El Tri were generating some darkhorse buzz – and the World Cup. Just as obviously, a lot can change in the next seven months.
But 2015 may turn out to be a rude awakening for the US, especially if Miguel Herrera and his players can keep the good times rolling until next summer.
Carlos Vela is just one player. But he is now a player who has found his comfort zone for both club and country.
It's been a long time coming for him, and now the question must be asked: do the US have a player around right now able to make the difference like Mexico's prodigal son?
The answer to that may not be one we all want to hear.
