Andres Guardado played the World Cup injured

It is safe to say that Andres Guardado didn’t have the best of World Cups. News is coming out now that the Mexican captain played all four games for the Mexico National team injured.

According to a report from Mexican newspaper Récord, Andres Guardado never fully recovered from a thigh injury he suffered playing for Real Betis back in April. Although Guardado had a precautionary surgery right before the World Cup, “El Principito” allegedly played all of the World Cup in pain.

From before the start of the World Cup, one of the major doubts for coach Juan Carlos Osorio was Andres Guardado’s health. It is also why he decided to take Pachuca midfielder Erick Gutierrez over extra defensive cover after Diego Reyes was not deemed enough to join up the team in Russia.

Guardado played a total of 307 minutes in the World Cup, starting in all four matches for El Tri.