Alejandro "Alex" Zendejas Saavedra (born February 7, 1998) is a professional soccer player who plays as a winger for Liga MX side Club América. Born in Mexico, he represents the United States national team.
Early life Zendejas was born in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico, his parents Alfredo Zendejas and Mónica Saavedra are originally from Toluca, State of Mexico, he has two older siblings a sister named Ana Lucia and a brother named Alfredo Jr. When Zendejas was 6 months old his family moved to El Paso, Texas, where he was raised. He holds both U.S. and Mexican citizenship.
The MLS, U.S. Soccer, and FC Dallas websites all listed him as being born in El Paso, Texas, but FC Dallas later confirmed that Zendejas had been born in Mexico.
Club career FC Dallas On October 1, 2014, Zendejas signed a homegrown player contract with FC Dallas, making him the 13th homegrown signing in club history. However, he was not eligible to play for the first team until the 2015 season. Zendejas made his professional debut on May 1, 2015, in a 4–1 victory over Houston Dynamo.
Guadalajara 2016–17: Debut season, Copa MX title, and first league title On June 23, 2016, Zendejas signed with Liga MX Guadalajara. In order to meet with the club's tradition of only using Mexican players, Zendejas agreed to reject future U.S. national team call-ups and accept Mexico national team call-ups if they ever occur. Zendejas was registered with the first team and was given the number 29 jersey, the same kit he had at Dallas. Zendejas made his Liga MX debut on August 6, in a match against Querétaro.
2017–18: Loan to Zacatepec In a press conference, Chivas coach Matías Almeyda confirmed some youth players would be sent out on loan to sister club Zacatepec to get playing time. On June 8, 2017, Zacatepec announced they had signed Zendejas on loan. Zendejas scored his first professional goal in a Copa MX match against Cruz Azul. He scored his first Ascenso MX goal on August 12, 2017, against Murciélagos F.C. Zacatepec would go on to win 1–0 with his goal.
Necaxa On June 29, 2020, Zendejas joined Club Necaxa on a free transfer.
América On January 17, 2022, Zendejas joined América for $3 million.
International career United States U15 and U17 Zendejas was a member the United States under-17 squad that competed at the 2015 CONCACAF U-17 Championship playing alongside future USMNT stars Christian Pulisic and Tyler Adams. Overall, he gained 27 caps and scored four goals for the U-17 national team. After joining Mexican club C.D. Guadalajara, Zendejas agreed to reject future U.S. national team call-ups and accept Mexico national team call-ups if they occur.
Mexico In August 2017, Zendejas was called up to the Mexico under-21 squad for games in China and Qatar, the start of preparation for the Olympics in Tokyo in 2020.
Zendejas received his first call-up to the national team by Gerardo Martino, and made his debut on October 27, 2021, in a friendly match against Ecuador, coming in as a substitute in the 65th minute for Uriel Antuna.
National team controversy In late August 2022, FIFA issued an investigation probe on the Mexican Football Federation regarding Zendejas' call-ups to friendly matches in October 2021 and April 2022, against Ecuador and Guatemala respectively, the matches themselves were non-FIFA regulated matches but nevertheless, Zendejas' national team allegiance was still under the 'legal' jurisdiction of the United States Soccer Federation, meaning that Zendejas had taken part in friendly matches for Mexico without consulting or filing a one-time switch to FIFA in order to switch national team allegiances, a violation of FIFA regulations.
On November 9, 2022, Zendejas’ attorneys revealed to media that the player was considering representing the United States.
On January 19, 2023, FIFA ordered Mexico to forfeit two friendlies—a 3–2 loss against Ecuador on October 28, 2021, and a 0–0 draw with Guatemala on April 22, 2022— and pay a 10,000 Swiss Franc fine for using Zendejas in violation of regulations. The Mexico under-23 team was also ordered to forfeit three games in which Zendejas played.
United States On January 17, 2023, Zendejas was included in the list of United States national team call ups for two friendlies against Serbia and Colombia.
In January 2023, Zendejas became the fifth player to earn caps for both national teams in the history of the Mexico–U.S. football rivalry and only the second Mexican-born to do so since Martín Vásquez.
On March 14, 2023, U.S. Soccer announced that Zendejas had officially committed to play internationally for the United States on a permanent basis.
On May 26, 2026, Zendejas was selected in the 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsFC Dallas2015MLS8020––100Guadalajara2016–17Liga MX2080——1002018–194061––1012019–202010––30Total80151——231Zacatepec (loan)2017–18Ascenso MX32481——405Necaxa2020–21Liga MX325—––3252021–22186–––186Total5011———5011América2021–22Liga MX185—––1852022–233410––2036102023–24429–854154152024–254011–413047122025–262812–504137132026–2730–00–30Total16547—17613219555Career total2636227315513231872
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsUnited States2023712024402025212026 2 0Total152
Scores and results list the United States' goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Zendejas goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Alejandro ZendejasNo.DateVenueCapOpponentScoreResultCompetition1 March 24, 2023 Kirani James Athletic Stadium, St. George's, Grenada 2 7–1 7–1 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League A2 September 9, 2025 Lower.com Field, Columbus, United States 13 1–0 2–0 Friendly
Honors Guadalajara Liga MX: Clausura 2017 Copa MX: Clausura 2017 Supercopa MX: 2016
América Liga MX: Apertura 2023, Clausura 2024, Apertura 2024 Campeón de Campeones: 2024 Supercopa de la Liga MX: 2024 Campeones Cup: 2024
United States CONCACAF Nations League: 2022–23
Individual CONCACAF Champions Cup Best XI: 2024 Liga MX Player of the Month: January 2025 Liga MX Goal of the Month: January 2025 Liga MX All-Star: 2025
References
External links