Mexico national team defender César Montes was substituted in the first half of the Russian Premier League match between Lokomotiv Moscow and Dinamo Moscow, sparking immediate worry within the coaching staff led by Javier Aguirre.
Just over a month before Mexico’s World Cup debut, Aguirre faced yet another setback as his starting right-center-back was forced off the pitch in the 22nd minute. Montes, who has formed a solid partnership with Johan Vázquez in central defense, has been a key figure for El Tri after proving himself in European football. Seeing him signal for a substitution against Dinamo Moscow was no minor concern.
Relief Replaces Alarm
Early reports in Mexico’s sports media raised fears of another serious injury, following months of significant absences that kept players like Luis Malagón and Marcel Ruiz from World Cup participation. However, sources close to Montes quickly confirmed that the pain in his leg was not severe. The decision to leave the game was purely precautionary, aimed at protecting the defender ahead of the World Cup.
A Season of Growth
This is not the first time Montes has caused a scare for the national team. In early March, he suffered a muscle injury in a match against Akhmat Grozny, but fortunately recovered quickly and returned to action on March 22.
Montes has become an undisputed starter for Lokomotiv, missing only two of the 28 league games played so far. His leadership and command on the field have been evident, even as some critics questioned his move from Spain to Russia. Lokomotiv currently sits third in the table, nine points behind Zenit and 10 behind leaders Krasnodar.