10 Famous People In Mexico You Need To Know About Now
Who are the most famous people in Mexico? Mexico is famous for a lot of reasons. For starters, it has pristine beaches, ancient ruins and
The popular imagination that runs through everyone’s mind when they hear about Mexican sports is soccer or futbol. As a popular sport, it is the most famous sport in Mexico, followed by boxing. And there’s a reason why soccer is such a popular sports in Mexico.
There are times in Mexico’s soccer history that Mexicans can look back at with pride. Mexico hosted the FIFA World Cups in 1970 and 1986. Interestingly, it was only in 1970 and 1986 that Mexico qualified for the quarter-finals.
This is the maximum Mexico has made into the FIFA tournament so far. Are Mexicans unlucky, just like the Netherlands? If you want to find out explicitly, check out the best soccer books.
Now, how about traditional Mexican sports? After all, everyone knows about what’s popular in culture and sports. But do you know about the traditional sports that are popular in Mexico?
If you don’t, this post will exactly discuss traditional famous sports in Mexico.
Pok-ta-Tok, or Tlachtli, was a sacred sport played by the ancient Maya, Aztec, and other pre-Columbian cultures. It lasted over 3,000 years and had deep religious and political significance in these societies.
The Pok-a-Tok ball was made of solid, heavy rubber, not leather. It weighed 8 pounds and was around 7-8 inches in diameter. Players were not allowed to use their hands or arms to touch the ball; instead, they had to use their hips, elbows, and other parts of their bodies to keep the ball in play.
The game’s goal was to get the ball through one of the high stone hoops on the court’s walls. This required great skill and athleticism, as the hoops were often several feet off the ground. The games were highly ritualized and seen by the Maya as reenactments of mythological events.
Pok-a-Tok was an important part of Maya culture and society. The courts at sites like Chichen Itza were large, elaborately decorated structures central to the community. The game had an athletic and ceremonial significance for the Maya civilization.
Pelota Mixteca is a somewhat similar sport but centuries apart from the Mixteca.
Padel is a racket sport similar to tennis. It was created by Enrique Corcuera in 1969. Enrique was a Mexican businessman who did not have the space to build a life-size tennis court in his garden. The limited availability of space led to the invention of Padel.
He also took inspiration from the game “paddle tennis,” which was quite popular in the United States in the early 20th century. However, Corcuera modified the rules and equipment to create a new version of the sport, which became “padel.”
The best thing about this popular Mexican sport is that you can play with family and friends in a smaller space. After all, a smaller space was why Corcuera had to find a way around.
The sport’s popularity grew in Mexico throughout the 1970s and 1980s. And in no time,
Padel quickly spread to other parts of Latin America, particularly Argentina.
However, Padel found its home in the European country of Spain. It is now the second most popular sport in Spain after soccer. The game became so popular in Spain that it led to the creation of millions of players and thousands of courts across the country.
Today, padel is played in over 50 countries worldwide and has a growing international following, especially in Europe. However, its origins in Mexico and sports, which makes it one of the best Mexican sports.
Charrería is a traditional Mexican sport that evolved from the ranching practices of the Mexican charros (horsemen) in the 16th century. Initially, it was a way to manage cattle, as it helped herders better manage livestock from different estates.
For this cultural heritage, it has also become a formalized equestrian event. Charrería is also included in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list.
The sport features various events, known as suertes, where participants showcase their roping, horse riding, and cattle handling skills. The judges decide the winners on precision, technique, and the charro’s ability to control the horse and cattle.
Charrería is celebrated as a symbol of Mexican identity and pride. It features lots of traditional music, attire, and festivities, making it one of the most popular sports in Mexico’s cultural heritage.
Lucha Libre is another traditional Mexican sport with roots dating back to the early 20th century. It is a form of freestyle wrestling that resembles Kabaddi, another traditional sport popular in India and Pakistan.
Lucha Libre is very different from the past, as players now wear colorful masks. The high-flying maneuvers and dramatic storytelling, where wrestlers, known as “luchadors,” perform, make this a great addition to Mexico and sports.
The masks are particularly interesting here, representing ancient warriors, animals, or mythical beings. The competition is equally exciting and fast-paced, where a player has to pin down the opponent on a count of three. This lucha libre style has influenced wrestling worldwide, particularly in the United States and as ‘Puroresu’ in Japan.
Beyond entertainment, Lucha Libre symbolizes the struggles of good versus evil and the fight for justice. It is one of the popular Mexican sports and is part of popular Mexican culture.
How can we leave soccer out of the Mexico and sports discussion? After all, soccer, or “fútbol,” is the most popular sport in the country, with a passionate following in urban areas and rural communities alike. The Liga MX is Mexico’s top professional league, where 18 clubs contest for the trophy each year.
The Mexican soccer team, El Tri, represents the Mexican flag’s tricolor. As I discussed in the introduction, Mexico has only made it twice into the quarterfinals of the FIFA World Cup.
This feat is quite similar to that of the South African cricket team, which hasn’t won any Cricket World Cup so far. I talked about this in the best South African books.
Hugo Sánchez was/is one of the legendary Mexican footballers of Real Madrid’s all-time greatest XI. Rafael Márquez, now a Mexican football coach, is another one of the best Mexican soccer players. Some other Mexican soccer legends include Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Jorge Campos, and Luis Hernandez, among others.
Mexico is the current champion of the CONCACAF Gold Cup and has already won the title multiple times. The Mexican football team’s consistent presence in international tournaments and its passionate fan base make Mexican soccer one of the most famous sports in Mexico.
Mexico may be the underdog in soccer, but the story is entirely different when it comes to boxing. In boxing, it has the most accomplishments after the US. After all, its 160 world champions have won over 200 belts in boxing competitions.
If one talks about Mexico and sports, how can one forget Mexico’s boxing legends. Julio César Chávez Sr. is one iconic legend with an impressive 107 career wins, including 86 knockouts. He dominated the ring from the 1980s to the early 1990s with 87 consecutive victories.
Some other Mexican boxing legends include Salvador Sánchez, Canelo Alvarez, and Rubén Olivares, among others.
Cinco de Mayo is an annual celebration on May 5 to celebrate Mexico’s victory over the Second French Empire.
It is also one of the biggest days in Mexico’s boxing calendar, featuring high-profile matches involving Mexican or Mexican-American boxers.
Arena Coliseo in Guadalajara and Arena México are two of the biggest sports complexes in Mexico, and they regularly hold boxing matches.
The city of Guadalajara is particularly interesting because it also produces the finest quality tequila. I recently wrote about Guadalajara’s production of the best tequila in Mexico.
Baseball is also one of the popular Mexican sports that rival soccer in some regions. It is especially popular in Northern Mexico, primarily in Sonora, Sinaloa, and Chihuahua.
Besides historical influences, baseball is popular in Northern Mexico because it is close to the United States.
As I mentioned, history is another reason baseball is one of the most famous sports in Mexico. The game gained popularity in the early 20th century when American sailors aboard a ship in Montana played the pickup game.
The game has been popular since then. Liga Mexicana de Béisbol is one of the major and oldest baseball events, started in 1925 and is still held every year.
However, Major League Baseball (MLB) is the biggest professional baseball event in the United States. So far, 147 Mexican players have been included in the MLB roster.
Vinny Castilla, considered one of MLB’s greatest hitters, was born in Oaxaca, Mexico. The success stories at Liga Mexicana de Béisbol and MLB keep inspiring Mexicans to produce the best Mexican baseball players.
Basketball is another popular sports in Mexico, although less popular than soccer and baseball. The introduction of basketball to Mexicans is also fascinating. This time, the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) missionaries from the United States introduced basketball to Mexico in the early 1900s.
Since then, basketball has become one of the most popular sports in Mexico, especially in regions like Chihuahua and Baja. Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional (LNBP) is the top professional league where 10 teams fight for the winning title.
Manuel “Mano Santa” Raga is one of Mexico’s basketball legends. He was also the first Mexican to play professionally in Europe in the 1970s. Gustavo Ayón is/was another Mexican basketball legend for his stint in the NBA.
An interesting fact about basketball in Mexico is that the country has participated in international competitions like the FIBA Basketball World Cup and the Olympics every time. However, it only once won the bronze medal in the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
Jai Alai is a traditional Basque sport with a long history in Mexico, particularly in Mexico City and Tijuana. It is a variation of Basque pelota. The name Jai Alai is attributed to the building where it is played. The game also has some similarities with squash.
Lorenzo “Txikito” Lizaso was a Basque player who dominated the Jai Alai in Mexico during the mid-20th century. Francisco “Patxi” Eguiguren is another Mexican-born player who made big in the sport.
An interesting fact about Jai Alai in Mexico is that it was once a major betting sport, with packed arenas and large sums of money wagered on matches. Though its popularity has waned over the years, the sport is still a cultural part of Mexico.
The Frontón México, a historic venue in Mexico City, reopened in 2017 after years of closure to keep Jai Alai’s legacy alive in the country.
If you are planning to visit Mexico, it has a lot to offer. It has many beautiful beaches, spicy food, lush green mountains, and a vibrant culture. Mexican sports are one vibrant part of that culture.
If you have any recommendations for popular sports in Mexico, you can leave a comment. After all, Mexico and sports are anagrams for a reason.
If you want to explore more about Mexico, check out my recent list of Mexican books and best Mexican movies. Also, I interviewed on Mexican music with Leonardo Prieto.
And as usual, learning a new language is always a great idea. And, if you are into learning, why not learn Spanish?
Who are the most famous people in Mexico? Mexico is famous for a lot of reasons. For starters, it has pristine beaches, ancient ruins and
Almost two years ago, I interviewed one of the famous Mexican singers, Leonardo Prieto, to understand the influence of Mexican folklore in his rock music.
Every country has a national identity of color, animal, food, and drink, among other things for which people recognize the country. Any wild guess as
