Oribe Peralta, Mexico's gold scorer, retires

Mexico's Oribe Peralta celebrates one of his goals against Brazil, in the final for the gold medal at the 2012 Olympics Robert Cianflone ​​(Getty Images)

The greatest certainty about Oribe Peralta (Torreón, 38 years old) is that the opportunities came late. Peralta shone in football until he was 27 years old, an age that in the world of the ball is approaching maturity. But when it turned on, this meager footballer touched the sky: multi-time League champion, scorer and gold medal winner on Wembley turf against Brazil. Before being the most coveted forward of the past decade, he was just another player, sidelined by coaches and ignored by recruiters. This January 12, his story with soccer has ended.

Peralta learned the trade of soccer in the llaneros. The land was part of their booties that began to shine in the local little leagues in La Partida, in the State of Coahuila. His father, Miguel Ángel Peralta, taught him to try twice or triple because they knew they were at a disadvantage compared to other boys. "Perseverance was what led me to be what I am now," the former soccer player told EL PAÍS in 2017. His first team was called Los Vagos, far from being a training team. In the beginning he suffered one of the worst injuries for a footballer: a fractured tibia and fibula. He was a year without playing, a hard blow for his beginnings.

Forward Peralta tried his luck at Chivas de Guadalajara, under the command of Argentine Oscar Ruggeri, but did not triumph. He moved to Monarcas Morelia where he was allowed to play, but did not charge. He went to León, which in 2003 was playing in the Second Division. Monterrey signed him for two seasons. His goals still failed to attract attention, although in 2005 he played a friendly match with the Mexican team against Argentina. Ricardo La Volpe, the coach at the time, had seen something special. Oribe, however, was not called to El Tri again until 2011. The Peralta pilgrimage passed through Chiapas and then to Santos Laguna. The Mexican media nicknamed him

, for the shape of his hair, and a harder one,

Peralta for his physical appearance.

Oribe Peralta celebrates a goal with América, in 2017.C.

Palm

2010 marked the beginning of his brilliant awakening, the forward began to become addicted to scoring goals with Santos to the degree of becoming a starter, finally, in the team.

In the 2011-2012 season he scored 28 goals in 40 games and won the League.

The Mexican team of under-23s looked at their performance.

He recruited him to reinforce, as an experienced player, a group that wanted to compete in the London Olympics.

The bet called Peralta worked: they won the gold medal at the Pan American Games and then they conquered the Olympics in 2012.

Peralta was crucial for Mexico to win the most unpredictable gold: he scored four goals in the tournament, two of them against Neymar and Marcelo's Brazil, in the final.

Peralta's stardom was immediate: the most beloved footballer and number one public figure.

From being the

Peralta he became the

Peralta.

America signed him, won two Mexican leagues and played two Club World Cups.

He saved the Mexican team from missing the 2014 World Cup in Brazil in the playoffs.

He changed the

for dental veneers and opted to take care of his image.

He was the face of the Puma brand.

Oribe Peralta, wearing the Santos Laguna jersey, celebrates a goal in 2011 LatinContent (LatinContent via Getty Images)

The decline occurred since 2018 when he was called up for the World Cup in Russia, but he played less than five minutes. In America they relegated him to the bench. In 2019 he starred in one of the most controversial signings in Mexico when he was signed by Chivas, the main enemy of Americanism. The Guadalajara club expected him to be a leader and foreman in the dressing room. And, of course, goals. In three seasons as a rojiblanco he could only score two goals and the bench his lair. He left the team crestfallen.

“I was always tied to a ball.

If you asked me ... That was the great success of my life.

The ball for me is joy.

The ball has been my confidant.

In his role as teacher he has been severe, he has challenged my existence.

It was thanks to a ball that I found my way ”, says Oribe Peralta in a farewell video.

"Today that I take a new course, you keep rolling, dear friend," closes the Mexican.

The time of sunset has come.

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