Joel Sánchez

Joel Sánchez Ramos (born 17 August 1974) is a Mexican former professional footballer who played as a defender for Veracruz. He is nicknamed "El Tiburón" Sánchez. He was on the Mexico squad that won the 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup.

A strong central defender, Sanchez made his debut with Guadalajara during the 1991–92 season. He is best known for his time at Chivas, where he won 1997 Verano championship. At Guadalajara, he formed a powerful defensive core alongside Claudio Suárez, with whom he played at both club and international level. After spending a year at rival Club América, he returned to Chivas in 2000. In later years, he played for Veracruz, Dorados, Querétaro, and Tecos.

He was a member of the Primera División at the 1998 FIFA World Cup, playing in the first-round games against Belgium and the Netherlands. In addition, Sanchez represented Mexico at the Copa América tournaments (1997) and (1999), helping the team to third-place finishes on both occasions.

Career statistics International + Appearances and goals by national team and year

Honours Mexico FIFA Confederations Cup: 1999