Some opportunities are built through hard work, and when they arrive, they find a response to match them. That is precisely the moment Ricardo Marín is experiencing with Guadalajara. The rojiblanco striker is making the most of every minute he receives, and his numbers in the Apertura 2026 already 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 having every time he steps onto the pitch.
The brace he scored against Xolos de Tijuana in Jornada 5 ultimately put numbers to the growth he had been showing from match to match. Marín had already scored against Santos Laguna and had 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 following his one-year loan spell with Puebla, the forward has learned to adapt to different scenarios. He has come on as a substitute to change the dynamics 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, when 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 strategist has found in Marín a striker capable of consistently participating in the game, providing support and combining with his teammates. The “4K” has one of his main strengths in his ability to move out of his zone, drop deeper and get involved in the play. He is a forward who does not simply wait inside the box, but instead looks to become a passing option, provide support and help maintain the continuity of attacks.
And when the action moves into the final third, he also offers skills that continue to develop. He looks to compete with center backs, protect the ball and win duels by using his body. In addition, he has evolved considerably in the aerial game and has become a reference point capable of attacking the box, while also reading what is happening around him.
Marín does not think only about finishing plays. One of the characteristics that has connected best with Guadalajara’s structure is his ability to identify the teammate in the best position. When he receives with his back to goal or wins a duel inside the box, he can look for the player arriving from the second line or lay the ball off to whoever has the better chance to finish. That collective awareness allows him to contribute even when he is not the one who ends the move.
All of this explains why his numbers have grown alongside his minutes. Marín has earned the opportunity to play more and, when that opportunity arrived, he responded emphatically. 3 goals and 1 assist in 160 minutes represent extraordinary offensive production, but they are also a reflection of a striker who has found different ways to be useful to the team.
Now, following his performance against Xolos, Ricardo Marín is making a strong case for himself. He is doing so through hard work, through his ability to adapt to the team’s needs and, above all, through his efficiency. Because when Gabriel Milito has given him minutes, the striker has found a way to make them count: 160 minutes. Three goals. One assist. A direct goal involvement 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.
