Carlos Vela - International Career

International Career

Vela played in the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship, held in Peru, where he helped Mexico to victory. He was a pivotal figure in the final against Brazil as Mexico triumphed 3–0. Vela subsequently finished as top scorer with five goals, claiming the Adidas Golden Boot.

During his stay at Osasuna, Vela made his full international debut for Mexico in a September 2007 friendly against Brazil. On 18 October 2007, Vela scored his first senior international goal for Mexico in a friendly against Guatemala played in Los Angeles.

Vela was called up for the two-legged playoff against Belize and the preceding friendlies. On 8 June 2008, Vela scored his second senior international goal for Mexico in a friendly against Peru at the 20th minute to help Mexico with their 4–0 victory. A match later for Mexico he scored in their qualifying opener versus Belize making the match 1–0. In the return leg against Belize he again scored the opening goal of the match and beginning the 7–0 rout in favour of Mexico.

In mid-2009, Vela was called up to play in the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup. He scored his fifth goal in a preparation friendly for the Gold Cup against Venezuela. Vela subsequently started in Mexico's opener against Nicaragua. However, after five minutes, an opposing player tackled Vela and he fell awkwardly on his right leg. However, x-rays showed he did not break anything and could play again in the tournament. Mexico would advance to the semi-finals against Costa Rica, where Vela would make his return in the 81st minute. After extra time, the game was tied 1–1 and went to penalties. After Guillermo Ochoa saved Ledezma's penalty, Vela scored Mexico's fifth penalty to send them to the final. In the Gold Cup final, Vela was brought on at half time with the score deadlocked at 0–0. Mexico went on to defeat the US 5–0 with Vela providing the pass to Giovani Dos Santos for the first penalty, creating the second goal, scoring the third and assisting the fourth. Vela scored one goal and assisted a goal in Mexico's 4–1 win over El Salvador which meant Mexico qualified for the 2010 World Cup. In the match against New Zealand, he scored a goal, in which he took out three defenders before tapping the ball next to the goalkeeper Glen Moss.

On 3 June 2010, he scored his first international goal against a team from Europe, Italy. He scored the first goal of the game with an assist from Giovani dos Santos. Mexico won this game 2–1.

During a game against France he got struck in the right leg and got injured, Vela went out in the first half against and missed the 1–0 loss to Uruguay. When Mexico played Uruguay in the World Cup Vela's place was taken by Cuauhtémoc Blanco.

On 21 September 2010 it was announced that Vela and fellow Mexican international Efraín Juárez would be suspended from the Mexican National Team for 6 months for their involvement in a party on 7 September in Monterrey following a game with Colombia. Vela and 12 other players were also fined 50,000 Mexican peso (approx. US$3,953 as of 24 September 2010), and the money collected will most likely be used to help the flood victims in the Mexican state of Veracruz.