Ricardo Marín Steps Up as Chivas' Attacking Reference After Hormiga Gonzalez's Departure

The gap was left by Armando "Hormiga" Gonzalez when he departed for Olympiacos. Someone had to fill it. For now, that someone is Ricardo Marin, who has racked up four goals and two assists through the seven matchdays of the Apertura 2026 and has become the attacking reference for Chivas under Gabriel Milito.

Marin's story in Guadalajara hasn't followed a straight line, and that helps explain why this moment feels different to him. He joined the club for the Apertura 2023 as just another attacking option, right around the time Gonzalez was starting to emerge from the youth ranks. In that first stint, Marin put together 11 goals and three assists in 59 matches across all competitions, but Hormiga's rapid rise (he debuted in Liga MX in the Clausura 2024 and scored his first goal for Chivas that same year in the Apertura, against Tijuana) ended up squeezing his playing time on a front line that also included Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez and Alan Pulido.

Asked about watching Gonzalez's rise from the inside, Marin didn't hide what he felt.

A lot of pride. I was here the first time when he was coming up, and watching how he worked, his professionalism was incredible and it motivated us. The discipline he had is something you don't often see. Hormiga, my respect for the work he put in. It's a point of pride, it reflects work he earned, and I hope things keep going well for him.Ricardo Marin

The Loan to Puebla That Turned Into a Springboard

With no room up front at Chivas, Marin went out on loan to Puebla for 2025. There he found what he'd been missing in Guadalajara: consistent minutes. He played 28 Liga MX matches and scored eight goals, adding a goal and an assist in the Leagues Cup. By his own account, that stretch was what made him appreciate his return to Chivas in a different way.

That loan spell at Puebla helped me a lot, it made me realize just how much it means to be at Chivas and to feel proud of it. Millions of Mexicans want to be in our position, so you work to keep it, keep working to improve, and stay ready for whatever the coach needs on any given day. Hopefully the good run continues.Ricardo Marin

Once the loan ended, Marin returned to Guadalajara for the Clausura 2026 and once again ran into a Hormiga who was no longer the same prospect fresh out of the academy: he closed that tournament with 12 goals, matching the tally he'd posted in the Apertura 2025, for a total of 24 goals across those two tournaments before heading to the World Cup and later to Greece. The two shared the field again to start the Apertura 2026 and in the Leagues Cup, until Gonzalez left the club in August without having scored that season.

That's when Milito handed Marin a bigger role. The forward, though, prefers not to measure himself directly against the numbers his former teammate left behind.

We know it's a very tough thing to match, what Hormiga did is a point of pride, he means a lot to the club and to us, he left an important mark. His departure hit us, but we think it's the best thing for him and we hope things go very well for him. He set the bar very high, because those numbers are hard to reach.Ricardo Marin

So what's the goal? Not to chase a ghost, but to make the most of what's in front of him.

I want to focus on myself, on the opportunities I'm being given. Records are made to be broken, hopefully that's how it goes. We're focused on supporting the team and having the team function well, on the team looking its best. It's about making the most of the opportunity we have, and hopefully that happens.Ricardo Marin

There was also movement around the club this week: Rafael Marquez visited Chivas' training session at Verde Valle as he prepares his first call-up list as head coach of the Mexican national team following the 2026 World Cup, ahead of four friendlies Mexico will play in the United States against Colombia, Peru, the United States and Chile. The visit also brought about a reunion between Marquez and Milito, former teammates at Barcelona during the Guardiola era between 2007 and 2010.