Marcelo Balboa is emerging as one of the top players in the Mexican First Division. Will MLS want to go without him?
The U.S. success at the 1994 World Cup — its passage into the second round for the first time since 1930 — owed much to its central defense of Marcelo Balboa and Alexi Lalas.
Coach Bora Milutinovic’s system funneled the opponent’s attack into the middle, where the pair of hard-tackling, long-haired giants waited.
Guitar-playing Lalas has become a star recognizable even outside the soccer community. He is the favorite signing of MLS, one of whose officials actually compared him to Michael Jordan.
Balboa has not yet committed to the MLS.
After the World Cup, Lalas signed with Padova in the Italian First Division. Balboa — whose bicycle kick against Colombia is becoming the most celebrated highlight film miss in history — was jobless for six months until he signed with the Esmeraldas (Emeralds) of Leon, then floundering in the Mexican First Division.
This season, the tables are turned. Lalas is struggling at Padova, while Balboa has gotten a share of the credit for Leon’s climb from cellar dweller to title contender.
Mexican sports daily Ovaciones rates him among the Top 10 foreigners in the First Division, whose foreign legion comprises more than 70 players from 20 nations.
The Californian has won respect from teammates — who called him “Bora Boy” when he first arrived — and the media, and he is playing the best soccer of his life. The first player to represent the United States 100 times, Balboa is also the most creative backline player the U.S. has ever had. Consider that he has scored 11 goals even though Milutinovic certainly didn’t encourage him to attack.
Leon, one of Mexico’s woeful teams in 1994-95, bought 13 new players this season and Balboa survived the overhaul. The team has led Group III since the start of the year and is third in the overall standings.
“This year we’re a team,” Balboa said. “We all fight. We’re prepared to struggle together. If something goes wrong, we don’t start bitching at each other. And it helps that we’re a better team this year, technically and physically.”
Leon had the most auspicious of starts, beating Chivas in Guadalajara 4-0. Balboa scored in the season’s second game, a 3-2 win over UNAM. And beating Santos on the road in mid-October confirmed that Leon had truly shaken off its losing ways.
“When I came here, we were last in the league,” Balboa said. “I played before I really trained with the team. And we struggled. “Now everything is going great. I’m happy and everything’s going fine. I’m physically in top shape. I’m attacking when I want; my coach encourages it. I play like a sweeper, running side to side picking up, whoever’s open.
“The press likes my play. The team gets respect. Our stadium was usually about a fourth full last season. Now it’s almost always full.”
A Goal on Monday Night Soccer
Balboa is also enjoying life in Mexico. His fiancee, Cindy, has found work as an English teacher. Both find Leon — famous for its shoe factories — comfortable.
“It’s a big city, but with a small-town feel to it,” Balboa said. “People are very nice and friendly. It’s a bit hard to go shopping. I’m the tallest guy on the team and the only one with long hair, so I get recognized.
“They ask for autographs and want to take pictures with me when I go to the grocery store, so I usually end up with only half the stuff I needed to buy.”
Balboa’s daily routine is practice from 10:00 to 12:00 or 12:30. Then he takes a nap before meeting Argentine teammate Gustavo Dezotti for golf.
“We play nine holes every day,” Balboa said. “We’re getting good.” Balboa stayed off the green on Monday, Oct. 30, because Leon went to Mexico City to meet giant Club America in the weekly game modeled after Monday Night Football.
Though Leon lost 3-1, Balboa had reason to be pleased. The ejection of Sigifredo Mercado forced Leon to play a man down from the 55th minute, when it was already a goal down.
But Balboa gave hope with a 73rd-minute equalizer before Club America prevailed with two goals in the final 10 minutes.
Balboa hopes to know more about his future.
“I think then the club will let me know it wants to keep me for next season,” he said. “I want to be a part of MLS, but I have to sit down with them and see what they put on the table. I would love to finish the season here, sit out a week or two, then play in MLS, and come back here after the MLS season. I don’t know if that’s too hard physically.”
by Soccer America senior editor Mike Woitalla
Mexican First Division
Oct. 30 in Mexico City
Club America 3, Leon 1. Goals: Lozano 28, Bwalya 81, 83; Balboa 73.
Club America — Chavez, Sanchez Yacuta, Gutierrez, Salgado, Villa, Lara (Del Olmo, 80), Lozano, Bwalya, Zaguinho, Garcia (Omam Biyik, 75), Blanco (Capetillo, 46).
Leon — A.Martinez, S.Martinez, Mercado, Balboa, Sosa, Garcia Reza, Ordiales, Marquinho, Alvarez, Pena (Tilico, 60), Tita (Ortega, 76).
Att.: n/a.