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The North American continent has always managed to produce talented footballers, although none of the countries has managed to make a name among the big boys of the footballing world. The likes of Landon Donovan, Hugo Sanchez, Clint Dempsey, Rafael Marquez and Tim Howard to name a few, have shown that the continent is not bereft of talent.
However, as countries, the members of CONCACAF have not really achieved glory. The USA, Cuba, Costa Rica and Mexico have been able to make it to the knockout stages a combined 6 times. The USA, Costa Rica and Mexico have been the flag bearers of the CONCACAF and have managed to produce the best footballers from the continent.
This list will look at all players from countries affiliated to the CONCACAF playing in any league in the world. Moreover, this list will be based on the overall current ability of the players and their relevance today and not their current form or past achievements.
The list also does not just intend to make up a team of XI individually best players but to analyze who would fit the best in the system and complement each other. The formation used is 4-3-3.
So let's get started.
Goalkeeper - Keylor Navas (Costa Rica)
This position is one of the easiest choices in the list as Keylor Navas is, at the moment, far better than any other goalkeeper from North America. Though the USA has generally been the one to produce the best goalkeepers from the continent, there isn't anyone who can challenge Navas for this position at the moment.
Navas was arguably one of the most underrated players during Real Madrid's three consecutive Champions League titles. He was an integral part of the team and was instrumental in their triumphs, contradictory to the common opinion that Madrid managed to win despite having Navas as their No. 1.
He has garnered 86 caps for his native Costa Rica and at 32 years of age, is arguably the countries greatest ever football player.
He saw his game time at Madrid reduce with the arrival of Thibaut Courtois. However, with Courtois struggling to find form and making error after error, Madrid have started realizing Navas' worth.
Right-Back - Miguel Layun (Mexico)
Layun is an extremely versatile footballer who has played at left-back, central-midfield and right-wing. However, he looks settled when playing at right-back and is the best choice available. Layun is a set-piece specialist, a good crosser of the ball and can add attacking intent to a team with runs down the wing.
After stints in Europe with Atlanta, Granada, Watford, Porto, Sevilla, and Villareal, Layun returned to Mexico with Monterrey. He has 71 caps for Mexico in a variety of positions. At club level, Layun has managed 335 appearances and has scored 32 goals and assisted another 39.
Left-Back - Fabian Johnson (USA)
The opposite flank is guarded by the American International Fabian Johnson. Similar to Layun, Johnson is extremely versatile. Born in Germany, Johnson is a regular with the USA National football team with 57 caps. In addition to being versatile, Johnson is quick, has a good engine and boasts of a powerful long throw.
He has been contracted to Borussia Monchengladbach since 2014, where he has made 133 appearances scoring 15 goals and providing 19 assists. He has previously played for Wolfsburg and Hoffenheim.
Right Centre-Back - Nestor Araujo (Mexico)
If this article had been written a couple of years back or was based on past achievements, Jamaica's Wes Morgan would have been the obvious choice. However, even though he was instrumental in Leicester City's title triumph, he has since not been at his best.
Thus joining his countrymate Layun, is Mexican defender, Nestor Araujo. Currently, at Celta Vigo where he has made 33 appearances in his first season, Araujo has already made his name in Mexico with CD Cruz Azul, where he made 65 appearances and at Santos Laguna where he made 151 appearances.
Araujo was a part of the Mexico side that won Gold at the 2012 Olympics. He is a well-rounded centre back who is good in possession and has impressive passing ability. He has been capped 30 times by Mexico and with Araujo's ability, he will earn many more.
Left Centre-Back - John Brooks (USA)
Completing the "half Mexican-half American" defence is US International John Brooks. Similar to Fabian Johnson, Brooks is a German-born player but has represented the USA 37 times. Blessed with blistering pace and power, Brooks is a towering defender.
At club level, he has made 131 appearances for Hertha Berlin and is currently at Wolfsburg, where he has made 44 appearances. His reported €17 million move to Wolfsburg in 2017 made him the most expensive US football player at the time. He is quick, strong, relentless in his defensive duties and like his centre-back partner in this XI, comfortable in possession.
Thus, Araujo and Brooks should form a solid defensive base for the team to attack from.
Defensive Midfielder - Weston McKennie (USA)
On the right side of central midfield is 20-year-old US International Weston McKennie. The number of US players in this XI demonstrates the dominance of the nation in the North American continent in footballing terms.
McKennie is an exciting talent and a brilliant prospect for world football. He made his international debut on the 17th of November 2017 and has since made 13 appearances for the Stars and Stripes scoring 3 goals and providing 2 assists.
He is currently at Schalke in the Bundesliga and at such a young age has already made 59 appearances scoring 2 goals and assisting another 6. He is versatile and has played in 7 different positions for the Schalke U-19 and the senior team. However, he is at his best either in central midfield, as a No. 6 or a little further up as a No. 10.
He will provide the base for the other two midfielders to attack and create opportunities.
Right Central Midfielder - Hector Herrera (Mexico)
On the right side of midfield is another Mexican, Hector Herrera. Recently transferred to Atletico Madrid, the midfielder started his career at Pachuca in Mexico. He made his name in the football world with his performances for Porto, for whom he made 245 appearances, scoring 35 goals and assisting 35. He is a quick midfielder, with an eye for a defense-splitting pass. He is an aggressive, forward-thinking player who is skilled at tackles and interceptions.
He has earned 70 caps for El Tri. He can play anywhere across the midfield, however, he is the most suited in a central midfield role where he can pull the strings and set attackers through towards the opponents' goal.
In this XI, his versatility will give flexibility to the formation as it can change from a 4-3-3 to a 4-2-3-1 or 4-2-4 when more attacking impetus is needed
Left Central Midfielder - Andres Guardado (Mexico)
Andres Guardado adds to the plethora of versatile players already in this XI. He has predominantly played as a left-winger but has also played as a left-back, holding midfielder central or attacking midfielder. He now plays regularly in the centre of midfield for Real Betis in La Liga, where he has made 72 appearances.
He has been capped an incredible 153 times by Mexico. He has previously turned up at club level for Deportivo de La Coruna, Valencia, and PSV. He, the will definitely bring plenty of bite and energy alongside Herrera and McKennie, along with an eye for a pass and an occasional screamer with his famous left foot.
Right Wing - Christian Pulisic (USA)
The wide areas are the real strengths in this XI and thus I am forced to leave out many top talents. Due to this, this list will be rounded off with a potential bench without which there cannot be justice done to this XI.
Having said that, there is no way that I could leave out Christian Pulisic who is by far the best United States player at the moment and quite possibly the best CONCACAF player as well. It is worth remembering that Pulisic is still just 20 as he seems to have been around for a long time. Pulisic is a quick and tricky winger who operates with guile and is known to beat his marker regularly.
He has already scored 10 goals in 25 caps for the national side. He has tremendous experience having made 127 appearances for Borussia Dortmund.
Left Wing - Hirving Lozano (Mexico)
This was one of the toughest choices as I had two options, both equally exciting, to pick from. The toss-up was between Eredivisie star Hirving Lozano and Jamaican wonder Leon Bailey. However, Lozano just about edged out Bailey due to slightly better performances at club level.
Lozano is a feisty and energetic left winger who earned great plaudits in Mexico with Pachuca and has been playing even better since joining PSV in 2017. He has scored 40 and assisted 23 in 74 appearances for the Dutch giants.
At the age of 23, he has already made his mark on the international level, scoring 9 and assisting 4 in 35 caps. He also played brilliantly in the 2018 FIFA World Cup scoring against Germany. His dynamic and all action approach would prove to be extremely useful in this side.
Centre-Forward - Raul Jimenez (Mexico)
Raul Jimenez is the first Premier League player in this XI, with Pulisic yet to actually start playing for Chelsea. The striker earned his reputation playing for Club America at a young age where he scored 31 goals and assisted 16 in 83 appearances. However, he was not particularly prolific for either Atletico Madrid or Benfica.
He was sent out on loan to Wolverhampton Wanderers for the 2018-19 Premier League season where he scored 17 in 44 appearances and was considered to be among the best strikers in the league. The Mexican's all-round play and his ability to lead the line has been particularly impressive. His performances prompted Wolves to dish out about €35 million to sign him permanently from Benfica.
The tall center-forward has 71 caps to his name and has found the net 16 times. Jimenez is finally making a mark on the world footballing stage and is now one of the first names on the Mexico team sheet. He is also keeping out his fellow countryman Javier Hernandez from making this XI.
Bench: GK - Guillermo Ochoa (Mexico), RB - DeAndre Yedlin (USA), CB - Wes Morgan (Jamaica), CM - Rodolfo Pizzaro (Mexico), CM - Hector Herrera (Mexico), LW - Leon Bailey (Jamaica), CF - Javier Hernandez (Mexico).
