Ricardo Marín, clinical finishing repaying Guadalajara's faith | OneFootball

There are opportunities that are built through hard work and that, when they arrive, are met with a response worthy of the moment. That is precisely the stage Ricardo Marín is experiencing with Guadalajara. The rojiblanco forward is making the most of every minute he gets, and his current Apertura 2026 campaign already has numbers that speak for themselves: 160 minutes played, 3 goals, and 1 assist. In other words, Marín has been directly involved in a goal every 40 minutes, a figure that reflects the impact he is making every time he steps onto the pitch.

The brace he scored against Xolos de Tijuana on Matchday 5 ended up putting numbers to the growth he had been showing game after game. Marín had already scored against Santos Laguna and previously provided an assist against Bravos de Juárez, meaning that in three of his last four Liga MX matches he has recorded 3 goals and 1 assist.

However, Ricardo’s contribution goes far beyond the numbers. Since returning to Guadalajara after his one-year loan spell with Puebla, the attacker has known how to adapt to different situations. He has come on as an impact substitute to change the flow of a match, entered from the bench to give the attack a different presence, and also taken on the responsibility of starting, including during the previous Liguilla, where he scored a goal and provided an assist.

That ability to interpret different roles has been an important part of his growth under Gabriel Milito. The rojiblanco manager has found in Marín a striker capable of being constantly involved in play, offering support, and linking up with his teammates. And "4K" has one of his main strengths in his ability to move out of his zone, drop deep, and get involved in the play. He is an attacker who does not simply wait inside the box, but instead looks to make himself a passing option, provide support, and help keep moves flowing.

And when the action moves into the final third, he also brings qualities that are becoming more and more refined. He looks to compete with center-backs, shield the ball, and win duels using his body. In addition, he has improved considerably in the air and has become a reference point capable of attacking the box, while also reading what is happening around him.

Marín is not focused solely on finishing moves. One of the traits that has fit best with Guadalajara’s structure is his ability to identify the teammate in the best position. When he receives the ball with his back to goal or wins a duel inside the box, he can look for the player arriving from deep or lay it off to whoever has the better chance to finish. That collective awareness allows him to contribute even when he is not the one completing the move.

All of this explains why his numbers have grown along with his minutes. Marín has earned the opportunity to play more, and when that chance arrived, he responded emphatically. 3 goals and 1 assist in 160 minutes represent extraordinary attacking output, but they are also the reflection of a striker who has found different ways to be useful to the team.

Now, after his performance against Xolos, Ricardo Marín is making a strong case for himself. He is doing it through hard work, through adapting to the team’s needs, and above all through efficiency. Because whenever Gabriel Milito has given him minutes, the forward has found a way to make them count: 160 minutes. Three goals. One assist. Direct involvement in a goal every 40 minutes. Numbers that speak to his current form and, at the same time, show that Ricardo Marín is ready to keep making the most of his opportunity.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.