Alejandro Zendejas Saavedra, born on February 7, 1998, is a professional soccer player known for his position as a winger for Liga MX club América. Although born in Mexico, he represents the United States national team.
After a match against Saint Kitts and Nevis, Zendejas faced criticism and trolling on Twitter for failing to score. Comments ranged from expressing frustration with his performance to calling him “awful” and “the worst soccer player” they’ve ever seen.
In terms of his club career, Zendejas started with FC Dallas, signing a homegrown player contract in 2014. He made his professional debut in May 2015. Later, he joined Liga MX club C.D. Guadalajara, adhering to the club’s tradition of using only Mexican players. Zendejas had loan spells at Zacatepec and eventually joined Club Necaxa before joining Club América in January 2022.
On the international stage, Zendejas has had a complex journey. Initially, he played for the United States under-17 squad alongside future USMNT stars such as Christian Pulisic and Tyler Adams. However, after joining C.D. Guadalajara, he agreed to reject future U.S. national team call-ups in favor of Mexico. He was called up for the Mexico under-21 squad in 2017 and made his debut for the Mexico national team in October 2021.
Controversy arose regarding Zendejas’ national team allegiance and his participation in non-FIFA regulated matches for Mexico without officially switching allegiances. FIFA launched an investigation, and Zendejas faced the possibility of a one-time switch back to the United States. In March 2023, he officially committed to representing the United States permanently.
Despite the trolling and controversy, Alejandro Zendejas continues his professional soccer career, seeking to prove his abilities and contribute to his club and national team’s success.
