Érik Lira
Mexican footballer (born 2000)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Érik Antonio Lira Méndez (born 8 May 2000) is a Mexican professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Liga MX club Cruz Azul, which he captains, and the Mexico national team.[2]
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Lira with Mexico in 2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Érik Antonio Lira Méndez | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 8 May 2000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City, Mexico | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Defensive midfielder | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Cruz Azul | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2018 | Pumas UNAM | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018–2020 | Necaxa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | Necaxa | 0 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020–2021 | Pumas UNAM | 57 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022– | Cruz Azul | 170 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021–2023 | Mexico U23 | 9 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021– | Mexico | 29 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 1 August 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 07:50, 6 July 2026 (UTC) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Club career
Lira began his career in 2013 when he joined the youth academy of Pumas UNAM. Five years later, he moved to Necaxa, making his professional debut on 1 August 2018, in a Copa MX match against Tampico Madero. He eventually returned to Pumas, where he marked his Liga MX debut on 3 August 2020, contributing to a victory over Atlas.[1]
In January 2022, Lira signed with Cruz Azul on a contract extending through December 2025. He debuted for the club on 9 January against Tijuana, and just months later, on 26 June, celebrated his first professional title as Cruz Azul captured the Supercopa de la Liga MX by defeating Atlas on penalties.
Lira made his debut as club captain on 31 August 2024 in the Clásico Joven against América, winning the match 4–1.[3]
On 1 June 2025, he lifted his second trophy—the CONCACAF Champions Cup—after Cruz Azul triumphed over the Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the final.[4]
International career
In May 2021, Lira was called up by Jaime Lozano to participate with the Mexico under-23 team for June friendlies against Romania, Saudi Arabia, and Australia.[5] On 27 October, Lira made his senior national team debut under Gerardo Martino in a friendly match against Ecuador.[6]
On 10 October 2023, Lira was included Ricardo Cadena's Mexico under-23 roster for the Pan American Games.[7] Mexico attained the bronze medal after defeating the United States 4–1 in the third-place match.
Lira was named in the 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted on home soil.[8][9]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played on 1 August 2026[10]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Necaxa | 2018–19 | Liga MX | — | 3 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | |||
| Pumas | 2020–21 | Liga MX | 36 | 0 | — | — | 2[a] | 0 | 38 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22 | 21 | 0 | — | — | — | 21 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 57 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 59 | 0 | ||||
| Cruz Azul | 2021–22 | Liga MX | 20 | 0 | — | 5[b] | 0 | — | 25 | 0 | ||
| 2022–23 | 36 | 0 | — | — | 1[c] | 0 | 37 | 0 | ||||
| 2023–24 | 35 | 0 | — | — | 1[a] | 0 | 36 | 0 | ||||
| 2024–25 | 39 | 1 | — | 7[b] | 0 | 4[a] | 0 | 50 | 1 | |||
| 2025–26 | 37 | 0 | — | 6[b] | 1 | 4[d] | 0 | 47 | 1 | |||
| 2026–27 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 1[e] | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 170 | 1 | — | 18 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 199 | 2 | |||
| Career total | 227 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 18 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 262 | 2 | ||
- Appearances in Leagues Cup
- Appearances in CONCACAF Champions Cup
- Appearance in Supercopa de la Liga MX
- Three appearances in Leagues Cup, one appearance in FIFA Intercontinental Cup
- Appearance in Campeón de Campeones
International
- As of match played 5 July 2026[11]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | 2021 | 2 | 0 |
| 2022 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2025 | 12 | 0 | |
| 2026 | 12 | 0 | |
| Total | 29 | 0 | |
Honours
Cruz Azul
- Liga MX: Clausura 2026
- Campeón de Campeones: 2026
- Supercopa de la Liga MX: 2022
- CONCACAF Champions Cup: 2025
Mexico U23
Mexico
Individual
