Lozano's World Cup debut justifies long-standing hype

Mexican fans and media have a long history of over-hyping countless domestic players.

Due to the country's semi-constant success in international youth tournaments - as well as its nearly religious obsession with futbol - there seems to be no lack of promotion and build-up for promising names, though most never fulfill such great expectations.

With impressive salaries in Mexico's first division, budding talents can stagnate with a comfortable, high-paying stay in the Liga MX. Others simply fail to earn minutes in a league that is competitive for young players. Those lucky enough to go abroad may struggle to make an impact in Europe, as the elite level of play is at times challenging.

But none of this applies to 22-year-old Hirving Lozano, as he amply demonstrated with a stunning performance in his World Cup debut Sunday.

Though the winger has been overwhelmingly praised since his teenage years with El Tri's youth national teams, the Mexican's thrilling growth for club and country has yet to slow. It isn't outlandish to assert that he is one of the most promising players on the planet.

Also known as "Chucky" - a nickname he earned in his younger days for his tendency to scare teammates from under their beds - the El Tri star has already won over Mexico's demanding fan base. With incredible energy, an excellent touch on the ball, and a powerful shot, Lozano is a threat to any defender that faces him.

After thriving with Pachuca in the Liga MX from 2014-17, the youngster flaunted his talent in an eye-catching Eredivisie season with PSV Eindhoven. In the 2017-18 campaign, Chucky took charge for the eventual title-winner with a remarkable 17 goals and eight assists. He needed little time to adapt, and was nothing short of a revelation for those lucky enough to catch his first season abroad.

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

With each goal and assist he collected for PSV, more rumors about another big move began to circulate. Heading into the World Cup, Lozano's reputation grew even more as media outlets outside Mexico began to select him as a potential breakout player.

Against Germany on Sunday, Chucky somehow found a way to exponentially increase his hype. Thanks to a lone goal from Lozano, Mexico shocked the current title-holder with a 1-0 win in its World Cup opener.

Related: World Cup holder Germany stunned by Mexico in Group F opener

Lozano, like many of his teammates, was extraordinary. With a number of high-pressing runs, the winger emerged as a threat against the likes of Sami Khedira and Joshua Kimmich. His passes and dribbling were dangerous, and by the 35th minute, he found himself with a historic goal after a well-timed assist from Javier Hernandez.

Following the strike, Lozano was equally impressive with his tracking back and defensive work. The PSV player covered an immense amount of ground on the left flank and proved vital in both the defence and the attack.

Other Mexican starters such as Hector Herrera, Guillermo Ochoa, and Jesus Gallardo also deserve applause for their performances, but were it not for Lozano, El Tri might not have found a way to steal those three points from Germany.

After the final whistle, the young Mexican was asked about the strike that gave his team the stunning victory. "That was the best goal of my life," replied Lozano, perfectly summing up the significance of what he'd just done.

It still might be too early in the tournament to make outlandish claims regarding Chucky, but it already seems clear that he's worthy of the hype around him.

With his opening act, the winger's not only turned the heads of big European clubs - he's gotten the attention of millions of fans who will be eager to see what else he can accomplish in the World Cup.