Football
Eric Gomez, Mexico writer 5y

Liga MX Power Rankings: Leon stay top after 12th straight win; Toluca among the biggest risers

Overall, it's a good time to be a Liga MX fan. History is being made each weekend with Leon extending their massive winning streak, and for those into feuds and drama, there's been plenty of it across teams, players and even fan bases.

In the space of a week, the region's top club competition will once again belong to a Mexican team, as Tigres and Monterrey battle it out for regional supremacy in the CONCACAF Champions League final. That said, it's time to take a bit of a victory lap. With just two games left, this week's Power Rankings will single out each team's Most Valuable Player -- whether it's a key piece for an impending playoff run, a top player to build around next season, or even someone who could fetch the club a big transfer fee.

Previous rankings: Week 14 Week 13 | Week 12 | Week 11 | Week 10 | Week 9 | Week 8 | Week 7 | Week 6 | Week 5 | Week 4 | Week 3 | Week 2

1. LEON 

Clausura 2019 MVP: Angel Mena. There are certainly a handful of candidates on the league's most explosive and consistent team: Jose Juan Macias has been a revelation, and Fernando Navarro's performances as a workhorse full-back have made many take notice. However, Angel Mena's 14 goals and 9 assists this season are undeniable. In the 5-2 win over Atlas -- Leon's 12th consecutive victory -- the Ecuador international added two more strikes to his league-leading tally.

2. TOLUCA 

Clausura 2019 MVP: Alexis Canelo. The Argentine has been given new life in coach Ricardo La Volpe's system, and his rebirth was more than visible in last weekend's 3-2 win over Club America. The former Puebla man scored a brace, giving him a team-leading six goals. Better yet, Toluca is now just two points off the playoff pace with a pair of games remaining.

3. MONTERREY

Clausura 2019 MVP: Rogelio Funes Mori. With 11 goals, Funes Mori has continued a frenetic goalscoring pace with Rayados this season. The target man has been superb in domestic and international competitions, and could be a surprise call-up for Argentina this summer as we near the Copa America. In the upcoming CONCACAF Champions League final, Monterrey's chances will be dictated in large part by Funes Mori's performances up front.

4. PUEBLA 

Clausura 2019 MVP: Lucas Cavallini. The Canada international has five goals, good for first on the team, and has undoubtedly been the lynchpin in attack for a resurgent Puebla that is currently hanging on to the last playoff spot in Liga MX. Though he didn't score in Puebla's 3-1 win over Chivas last weekend, his effect on defenses is always tangibly felt.

5. CLUB AMERICA 

Clausura 2019 MVP: Guido Rodriguez. The do-it-all midfielder has kept his team afloat more than once this season. Though Club America has won silverware this season in the form of the Copa MX, their playoff hopes hang in the balance thanks to a trove of injuries and intrasquad drama. Rodriguez has held above that, with consistent performances anchoring his team in both defense and attack.

6. LOBOS BUAP

Clausura 2019 MVP: Leonardo Ramos. The Argentine scored a brace last weekend against Tijuana to take his personal goal count to seven -- only four players in Liga MX have more. More importantly, the win over Xolos allows Lobos to hang on to their slim playoff hopes. With two games remaining, they're three points out.

7. NECAXA 

Clausura 2019 MVP: Brian Fernandez. Whether Fernandez is in Aguascalientes or not next season is somewhat irrelevant. The Argentina native has revived his career at Necaxa and led his team to an unexpected playoff run, the first in years for Los Rayos.

8. PACHUCA 

Clausura 2019 MVP: Edwin Cardona. After a turbulent run in Monterrey and an equally uneven stint at Boca Juniors, Cardona has returned to Mexico and performed at a supreme level for Pachuca. The Colombian has scored five times and assisted on nine strikes on the season, allowing his team to dream of a playoff run after an up-and-down season.

9. CRUZ AZUL

Clausura 2019 MVP: Milton Caraglio. Two more goals for Caraglio meant three more points for Cruz Azul this weekend, as Los Azules beat Pumas at the Estadio Azteca on Saturday. The target man for an offense built around wide possession and crosses, Caraglio has been the perfect instrument for Cruz Azul to cement their offensive runs throughout the season.

10. SANTOS LAGUNA

Clausura 2019 MVP: Jonathan Orozco. The talented Mexican goalkeeper has been on the ropes consistently this season, but he has once again proven to be the heart and soul of the Torreon side. Though Santos will likely finish outside of the playoffs, the former Monterrey player cannot be blamed for what's gone wrong at the Estadio Corona.

11. TIGRES UANL

Clausura 2019 MVP: Andre-Pierre Gignac. The central piece of Tigres' dynasty since his arrival in 2015, Gignac is UANL (and Liga MX's) most recognizable and perhaps talented player. In just one more week, the Frenchman could add to his trophy tally in Mexico, in the form of a CONCACAF Champions League title.

12. CLUB TIJUANA 

Clausura 2019 MVP: Gustavo Bou. After returning from a stint in his native Argentina, Bou has transformed Xolos' once moribund offense into somewhat of a contender. With five goals, Bou is mostly responsible for Tijuana's turnaround. Regardless of whether they make the playoffs or not, fans can thank the big striker for an uptick in excitement around the Estadio Caliente.

13. MORELIA 

Clausura 2019 MVP: Edison Flores. The Peru international has been one of the lone bright spots for a team that was officially eliminated from contention a few weeks ago. Flores' pace and explosiveness were on display last weekend in an exciting 3-3 draw against Tigres, in which he scored his team's final goal.

14. PUMAS UNAM 

Clausura 2019 MVP: Alan Mozo. The talented wing-back is a contender for a future spot with El Tri, and has proven an admirable replacement for the departed Jesus Gallardo. Yes, Pumas have been officially eliminated from the playoffs, but if more players like the 22-year-old Mozo are in UNAM's pipeline, the future could be bright.

15. ATLAS 

Clausura 2019 MVP: Jose Hernandez. Goalkeepers tend to shine, ironically, the most when their defenses are bad. This has been the case for Hernandez, 21, who has provided spectacular saves for Atlas on a consistent basis this season. If he's not sold in the summer transfer window, he could prove to be a fantastic piece to build around.

16. QUERETARO 

Clausura 2019 MVP: Camilo Sanvezzo. On a team that dragged away from playoff contention right off the bat this season, Sanvezzo has been one of the few consistent performers. Late in the season, he has finally found a strong partner up front in Ake Loba, and it will be interesting to see whether Queretaro keeps both of them next season, potentially allowing them to flourish.

17. CHIVAS 

Clausura 2019 MVP: Alexis Vega. The former Toluca man was one of Liga MX's most talked-about signings over the winter. Though he hasn't been completely lights out, Vega has still provided fans with a good amount of effort and positive performances throughout.

18. VERACRUZ

Clausura 2019 MVP: Sebastian Jurado. What's the best thing you can say about a player on a team with zero points through 15 games? The young goalkeeper has been so good, he's likely more valuable than the entire franchise at this point.

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