Missael Espinoza

Mexican footballer (born 1965)

Eduardo Missael Espinoza Padilla (born 12 April 1965) is a Mexican former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

A versatile player capable of lining up in the attack or on the right side of midfield, Espinoza began his career with Monterrey during the 1984–85 season. He participated with the Monterrey team that won the shortened Mexico 86 championship, becoming a frequent starter two seasons later and remaining with the club through 1993. Espinoza then joined Chivas, coming back from a serious injury that sidelined him for much of 1993, and scored a career high 14 goals in 1994–95. and winning honors as the club's most valuable player. Returning to Mexico with Chivas, he filled the role of a designated substitute as the club won the Verano 1997 title. He moved to León, finishing as runner up to Cruz Azul in the Invierno 1997 tournament, then joined Necaxa to win the Invierno 1998 competition. He returned to León in 2000, transferred Querétaro upon the 2002 relegation of León, and closed his top flight career with his original club Monterrey in 2005 at the age of 40. He later represented Mexico at the inaugural CONCACAF Gold Cup of 1991, playing all five matches, and appeared in six qualifying matches for the 1994 FIFA World Cup under the direction of César Luis Menotti. Espinoza made the final squad for the World Cup, albeit without playing a game in the competition. He was also selected for Miguel Mejía Baron's 22 man squad at the 1995 Copa América, which was the final major event of his international career. His last cap came in a penalty kick defeat in the Copa América quarterfinal against the United States on July 17, 1995.