Sergio Canales did not leave Rayados de Monterrey with a polite, throwaway summary. He left with a verdict. And it is exactly the sort of verdict that should make people sit up, because it comes from a player who spent six tournaments in Liga MX and backed his words with numbers that are hard to ignore: 118 matches, 46 goals and 20 assists.
That is not the résumé of someone passing through on a novelty tour. That is the record of a player who understood the league from the inside and still came away saying the same thing many outsiders refuse to admit: Liga MX is better than people think. Canales said the worst part is the tactical level. That is a sharp criticism, and it should be taken seriously. But he was just as clear about what makes the competition compelling: it is vertical, daring, full of speed, transitions and chances.
A blunt critique, but not a cheap shot
Canales's point matters because it is not coming from a rival, or from someone trying to make noise for the sake of it. It is coming from a former Rayados de Monterrey player who openly praised the atmosphere, said he had never even imagined going to México, and described the move as one of the best experiences of his life. That is not someone trying to settle a score. That is someone trying to tell the truth as he saw it.
And the truth, according to Canales, is a little uncomfortable for Liga MX. The attacking side of the league is lively and easy to enjoy. The tactical side, he says, is where the gap shows. That is a fair complaint, and one that should not be brushed aside simply because the league is entertaining. Entertainment matters, of course. But if Liga MX wants more projection on a bigger stage, it cannot rely forever on chaos, speed and open games alone.
At the same time, there is a reason Canales sounds so appreciative. He was not merely surviving in the league; he was producing at a high level. He pointed out that he scored 20 goals per year in two seasons, and 13 or 14 in another, numbers he says he was not reaching before. In other words, Liga MX did not just suit him emotionally. It helped him perform.
Why his numbers change the conversation
That is what gives his assessment weight. Plenty of players can offer broad opinions after moving abroad. Fewer can do it after posting 46 goals and 20 assists in 118 matches for Rayados de Monterrey. Those are not accidental numbers. They suggest a league with attacking space, rhythm and enough freedom to let a quality midfielder influence games in a major way.
So when Canales says the league deserves more respect and more projection, he is not speaking in vague promotional language. He is speaking from experience. He has seen the good and the bad. He has seen the fun, the intensity and the scoring. He has also seen the tactical shortcomings. That combination is more valuable than empty praise.
The uncomfortable truth is that both things can be real at once. Liga MX can be hugely enjoyable and still have tactical flaws. It can be fast, aggressive and unpredictable, while also leaving room for criticism in how teams are organized. Canales did not contradict himself. He described a league with obvious appeal and obvious limits.
And perhaps that is the most useful reading of his comments. Not a takedown. Not a sales pitch. A player who lived it, produced in it and still thinks it is being underestimated. In a football world that is often lazy about leagues it does not watch closely, that is at least worth hearing.
Canales may have moved on from Monterrey, but his numbers and his verdict tell the same story: Liga MX is entertaining, demanding and underrated. It also has tactical ground to make up. Both things can be true. In this case, they probably are.
