César Montes
Mexican footballer (born 1997)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
César Jasib Montes Castro (born 24 February 1997) is a Mexican professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Russian Premier League club Lokomotiv Moscow and the Mexico national team.
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Montes with Mexico in 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | César Jasib Montes Castro[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 24 February 1997[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Centre-back | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Lokomotiv Moscow | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 23 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2014 | Pobablo Miguel Alemán FC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014–2015 | Monterrey | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015–2022 | Monterrey | 216 | (9) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | Espanyol | 20 | (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023–2024 | Almería | 22 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024– | Lokomotiv Moscow | 35 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018 | Mexico U21 | 4 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016–2021 | Mexico U23 | 12 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017– | Mexico | 63 | (4) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 9 March 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 15 November 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Club career
Monterrey
During a youth league playoff match with Pobablo Miguel Alemán FC against Monterrey, he caught the attention of the opposing team.[3] He was eventually brought onto Monterrey's youth team and on 2 August 2015, Montes played his first match with Monterrey against the Portuguese team Benfica on the inauguration of the Estadio BBVA Bancomer. Montes came in as a substitute for the second half, and at the 48th minute he scored the first ever-goal in the Estadio BBVA Bancomer. Monterrey defeated Benfica 3–0.[4]
Montes made his official debut for Monterrey on 29 July 2015, against Correcaminos UAT in an Apertura 2015 Copa MX group stage match, where Monterrey defeated Correcaminos 3–1.[5] At the end of the 2016 Clausura, he was listed in the Best XI.[6]
At the end of December 2019, Montes would win the 2019 Apertura finals against América.[7]
With Monterrey's victory of the 2019–20 Copa MX, they had obtained the continental treble.[8]
Clásico Regiomontano
Clásico Regiomontano matches against crosstown rivals Tigres UANL have proven to be significant for Montes, scoring three goals against them to date.[9] He made his league debut on 19 September 2015 against Tigres UANL, contributing a 40-meter long ball assist to Rogelio Funes Mori to score the only goal for Monterrey where they lost Monterrey lost 3–1.[10] On 14 May 2016, he would score Monterrey's only goal of the second leg of the Clausura 2016 championship quarter-final against Tigres UANL, losing 2–1, but with an aggregate score of 4–3 in favor of Monterrey to allow them move onto the semi-final against América.[11] On 29 October 2016, he would tie the game against Tigres UANL, 1–1.[12] On 21 April 2017, Montes scored the only goal in a 1–0 victory over Tigres UANL.[13]
Espanyol
On 27 December 2022, Montes moved abroad and joined La Liga club RCD Espanyol, with a contract until 2028.[14] He made his debut for the club on 7 January 2023, in a 2–2 home draw against Girona FC.
Almería
Following Espanyol's relegation, Montes submitted a transfer request and, on September 1st, completed a move to Almería.[15] He reportedly signed a six-year deal, with the club paying a €14 million transfer fee, making Montes the most expensive signing in the club's history.[16]
Lokomotiv Moscow
On 12 September 2024, Montes signed for Russian Premier League club Lokomotiv Moscow on a five-year deal.[17]
International career
Youth
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Montes was part of Marco Antonio Ruiz's roster that participated in the 2018 Toulon Tournament.[18] He would go on to appear in all group stage matches including the semi-final, except for the final where Mexico would go to lose 1–2 against England since he picked up an injury in the previous match against Turkey.[19] He would go on to be included in the Best XI team of the tournament.[20]
On 7 July 2016, Montes was named by Raúl Gutiérrez to be included in Mexico's 21-man squad that would participate in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.[21] He would appear in all of Mexico's group stage matches but Mexico would finish third in their group and were thus eliminated from the competition.
Ruled out for the 2020 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship as it was not a FIFA-sanctioned tournament, Montes was called up by Jaime Lozano to participate in the 2020 Summer Olympics.[22] He won the bronze medal with the Olympic team.[23]
Senior
Montes was called up by the senior national team to participate in the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[24] He would make his debut on 13 July 2017 during a group stage match against Jamaica, coming in as a substitute for Rodolfo Pizarro at half-time, finishing the game at 0–0.[25]
On 6 June 2019, Montes was called up by coach Gerardo Martino to participate in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.[26] He appeared as a substitute in the group stage match against Cuba and as a starter in the final group stage match against Martinique as Mexico went on to win the tournament.[27]
In October 2022, Montes was named in Mexico's preliminary 31-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and in November, he was ultimately included in the final 26-man roster.[28]
Montes was included in Diego Cocca's roster for the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League Finals. During the semi-final match against the United States, Montes was sent off in the 69th minute after getting in a physical altercation with Weston McKennie, who was also sent off in the 71st minute after a VAR check. Montes was given a four-match suspension by CONCACAF, which included the third place match against Panama and the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup group stage.[29]
Montes was included in the subsequent 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[30] Mexico won the tournament after defeating Panama.[31]
Montes was part of the roster that participated at the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup, scoring three times, once in Mexico's 3–2 victory over the Dominican Republic and both goals in the 2–0 win over Suriname. Mexico won the competition defeating rivals the United States 2–1 in the final. He was subsequently included in the competition's Best XI.[32]
Style of play
Montes had been described as a ball-playing defender with great range of passing, and has shown on occasions that he is able to pick out long-range passes, and can execute a well-timed and accurate slide tackle. Due to his stature, he is also capable of contributing goals in set-pieces, is good in the air, and is able to deal with high balls into the box.[33][34][35]
Personal life
His younger brother, Alan, is also a professional footballer, playing for Liga MX club Necaxa.[citation needed]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 9 March 2026[36]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Monterrey | 2015–16 | Liga MX | 33 | 1 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 37 | 2 | ||
| 2016–17 | 33 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 2[b] | 1 | — | 41 | 5 | |||
| 2017–18 | 27 | 0 | 10 | 0 | — | — | 37 | 0 | ||||
| 2018–19 | 25 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7[b] | 0 | — | 33 | 2 | |||
| 2019–20 | 24 | 1 | 10 | 1 | — | 2[c] | 0 | 36 | 2 | |||
| 2020–21 | 30 | 0 | — | 6[b] | 0 | — | 36 | 0 | ||||
| 2021–22 | 28 | 1 | — | — | 1[c] | 1 | 29 | 2 | ||||
| 2022–23 | 16 | 0 | — | — | — | 16 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 216 | 9 | 31 | 2 | 15 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 265 | 13 | ||
| Espanyol | 2022–23 | La Liga | 20 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 22 | 3 | ||
| Almería | 2023–24 | La Liga | 21 | 0 | — | — | — | 21 | 0 | |||
| 2024–25 | Segunda División | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 22 | 0 | — | — | — | 22 | 0 | |||||
| Lokomotiv Moscow | 2024–25 | Russian Premier League | 16 | 0 | 4 | 2 | — | — | 20 | 2 | ||
| 2025–26 | Russian Premier League | 19 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 22 | 1 | |||
| Total | 35 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 3 | ||
| Career total | 293 | 13 | 40 | 4 | 15 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 351 | 19 | ||
- Includes Copa MX, Copa del Rey, Russian Cup
- Appearances in CONCACAF Champions League
- Appearance(s) in FIFA Club World Cup
International
- As of match played 15 November 2025[37]
- Montes additionally played a match against Martinique in 2019, which is not recognized by FIFA.
- Scores and results list Mexico's goal tally first.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 30 June 2021 | Nissan Stadium, Nashville, United States |  Panama | 2–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
| 2. | 14 June 2025 | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, United States |  Dominican Republic | 3–1 | 3–2 | 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup |
| 3. | 18 June 2025 | AT&T Stadium, Arlington, United States |  Suriname | 1–0 | 2–0 | |
| 4. | 2–0 |
Honours
Monterrey
Mexico U23
Mexico
Individual
- Liga MX Best XI: Clausura 2016
- Liga MX Best Rookie: 2015–16[42]
- Liga MX All-Star: 2021[43]
- Toulon Tournament Best XI: 2018
- IFFHS Men's CONCACAF Best XI: 2022[44]
- CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI: 2025
- CONCACAF Nations League Finals Best XI: 2024[45]
