Italian striker Joao Pedro sweeps Liga MX awards with three honors

Italian striker Joao Pedro has been crowned the best player in Mexican football, dominating the 2025-2026 Liga MX Ballon d'Or awards ceremony held in Los Angeles. Despite recovering from a serious knee injury, Pedro's exceptional performance throughout the season earned him three prestigious accolades: Best Player, Best Forward, and the Golden Boot as the league's top scorer.

His achievements highlight a remarkable season for the San Luis forward, solidifying his status as a key figure in Mexican soccer. The awards ceremony also recognized outstanding talent in the women's league, with Spanish midfielder Irene Guerrero of América being named Player of the Year. Guerrero's leadership was instrumental in América's championship win in both the league and the Concacaf tournament, under the guidance of compatriot Ángel Villacampa, who was honored as Coach of the Year for the women's league.

In other awards, Cruz Azul was celebrated as Team of the Year following their victory in the Campeón de Campeones match against Toluca. The ceremony also presented awards for various positions, including Best Goalkeeper (Nahuel Guzmán), Best Defender (Bryan González), Best Defensive Midfielder (Marcel Ruiz), Best Offensive Midfielder (Nicolás Castro), Best Rookie (Brian Gutiérrez), and Best Goalkeeper (Esthefanny Barreras). Efraín Álvarez received the award for Best Goal of the Year, while Gerardo Ruiz was named Best Player in the Liga Expansión.