Diego « Chicha » Sanchez, Gignac’s protégé at Tigres, the 1.55 m winger making his mark | OneFootball

Diego « Chicha » Sanchez’s rise gathered pace on Sunday as the 1.55 m Tigres winger struck his first goal of the season.

In a 2-2 draw with Atlético San Luis, the 21-year-old put Tigres ahead after a solo burst and low right-foot finish. According to L'Équipe, he is emerging as one of Liga MX’s bright young attackers.

In 2024 he became the smallest Liga MX player in 35 years. Standing 14 centimetres shorter than Lionel Messi at 1.69 m, he sits among the game’s shortest professionals, alongside Poland’s Marcin Garuch at 1.54 m.

A one-club product, he came through Tigres’ academy and debuted on 17 March 2024 against Mazatlan, earning an ovation as a late substitute. His first professional goal arrived in August 2025 versus Puebla, and he now has 31 matches, five goals and three assists.

In the Tigres dressing room he is mentored by André-Pierre Gignac, who offers guidance and demands high standards. Sanchez was raised in Monterrey’s Colonia Independencia and speaks often of strong family support.

Internationally, he has 16 caps, two goals and one assist for Mexico’s under-20s. He won the 2024 CONCACAF U20 Championship, beating the United States 2-1 after extra time, and featured at the 2025 World Cup where Mexico lost 0-2 to Argentina in the quarter-finals. His contract was extended in November 2025 to 31 December 2027.

Source: L'Équipe