Jesús Gallardo

Jesús Daniel Gallardo Vasconcelos (born 15 August 1994) is a Mexican professional footballer who plays as a left-back or left-winger for Liga MX club Toluca and the Mexico national team.

After passing through the youth academies of Once Hermanos, Jaguares de la 48, and Pumas UNAM, Gallardo made his debut for the senior Pumas UNAM team in 2014. Scoring 11 goals in 82 appearances, he departed the club for Monterrey in 2018. During his tenure with Los Rayados, Gallardo won one league title, one Copa MX title, and two CONCACAF Champions Cup titles, while making over 200 appearances and scoring 21 goals for the club. Since joining Toluca in 2024, Gallardo has won one league title.

Gallardo made his debut for Mexico in October 2016 in a friendly against New Zealand. He was part of Mexico's squads at the 2018, 2022 and 2026 FIFA World Cup. He was also involved in the squads that won the 2019, 2023, and 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup, as well as the 2024–25 CONCACAF Nations League.

Club career Youth Gallardo began his career at 15 years old with Once Hermanos from 2009, until making the switch to Jaguares de la 48 in 2011, and ultimately getting the attention of first division team Pumas UNAM. From there, in 2013,

On 21 November 2016, he would score a brace against W Connection during the 2016–17 CONCACAF Champions League group stage that ended 8–1.

On 9 August 2017, during an Apertura 2017 Copa MX group stage match against Monterrey, he would score the tying goal during stoppage time, leaving the match 1–1.

Monterrey 2018–19: Debut season, Copa MX, and first CONCACAF Champions League title On 29 May 2018, Gallardo joined Monterrey. He would make his debut with the team on 21 July 2018 as a starter against Pachuca, winning 1–0. On 29 September, he would score his first goal with Monterrey, scoring on the 74th minute in a 3–0 win over Tijuana. On 20 October, in a league match against Toluca, he scored the tying goal at the 73rd minute in which Monterrey would later go on to win 2–1.

On 23 October he scored the decisive penalty in the shootout of the Apertura 2018 Copa MX semi-finals against Pachuca, sending his team to the final. On 3 November he provided an assist and scored a goal in Monterrey's 2–0 victory over Veracruz.

As Monterrey won the 2019 CONCACAF Champions League Finals against crosstown rivals Tigres UANL, he was included in the Team of the Tournament.

2019–20: First league title and El Triplete At the end of the December, he would win the Apertura championship finals against América.

With Monterrey's victory of the 2019–20 Copa MX, they had obtained the continental treble.

Toluca On 5 June 2024, Gallardo was confirmed to have signed with Toluca for $5 million.

International career 2016–17: Beginnings and first CONCACAF Gold Cup Gallardo received his first call up to the senior national team to replace the injured Ángel Sepúlveda for matches against New Zealand and Panama in October 2016, making his international debut on the 8th of the month as a starter against New Zealand in a 2–1 victory, contributing a crucial pass for the winning goal.

On 28 June 2017, Gallardo was called up to participate in the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup, managing to appear in all games until their 1–0 semi-final loss against Jamaica.

2018–2019: First FIFA World Cup and second CONCACAF Gold Cup

In May 2018, Gallardo was named in Mexico's preliminary 28-man squad for the World Cup, and in June, was ultimately included in the final 23-man roster.

During Mexico's final group stage match against Sweden, he received a yellow card in the 13th second of the match for his elbow contact made with Ola Toivonen's face, marking it as the fastest yellow card given in FIFA World Cup history. He went on to play as a starter in all of the group stage matches, including the round-of-16 loss against Brazil.

He was included in Gerardo Martino's preliminary roster for the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup and was eventually in the final list. He appeared in all matches of the tournament, as Mexico defeated the United States in the final. He was listed in the tournament's Best XI. Following the victory, Martino declared Gallardo to be the best player of the match.

2022–2024: Second FIFA World Cup and 100th cap

In October 2022, Gallardo was named in Mexico's preliminary 31-man squad for the World Cup, and in November, was ultimately included in the final 26-man roster.

On 7 September 2024, he played his 100th international match, according to the Mexican Football Federation, in a 3–0 friendly win over New Zealand.

On 25 January 2026, Gallardo appeared as captain in a 1–0 friendly victory over Bolivia. Gallardo was named in the 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted on home soil.

Style of play Gallardo is known for intensity, pace, and physical strength, allowing him to be both dangerous and intense during a whole match. With the arrival of new national team coach Gerardo Martino, he chose to keep him as a left-back.

Career statistics Club

International

Scores and results list Mexico's goal tally first.

Honours Monterrey Liga MX: Apertura 2019 Copa MX: 2019–20 CONCACAF Champions League: 2019, 2021

Toluca Liga MX: Clausura 2025, Apertura 2025 Campeón de Campeones: 2025 Campeones Cup: 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup: 2026

Mexico CONCACAF Gold Cup: 2019, 2025 CONCACAF Nations League: 2024–25

Individual CONCACAF Champions League/Cup Team of the Tournament: 2019, 2021, 2026 CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI: 2019 CONCACAF Nations League Finals Best XI: 2023 Liga MX Best XI: Clausura 2025, Apertura 2025 Liga MX All-Star: 2025, 2026 Liga MX Best Full-back: 2024–25