While Brazil goes into Monday's round of 16 match as the favorite, El Tri can look back at previous successes to gather inspiration
Every match is a different story. Yet, when Mexico meets Brazil on Monday in the round of 16, El Tri may be able take inspiration from previous meetings between the two teams.
While Brazil is a footballing giant - the five time champion of the world, as Andres Guardado reminded everyone Friday - and Mexico a relative underachiever, El Tri has plenty of evidence to point to when their players say they can put an end to Brazil's 14-match unbeaten run.
Goal looks back on El Tri's historic results against the South American giants...
Omar Torres
1999 Confederations Cup final
Mexico hosted the 1999 Confederations Cup and was able to advance atop its group and move into the final. Enormous crowds showed to see El Tri during the tournament, and the final in the Estadio Azteca against Brazil was no different. More than 100,000 fans crammed in to see Mexico beat Brazil 4-3.
Omar Torres
Zepeda doubles, while Marquez suits up in defense
Mexico went into half time of the 1999 Confederations Cup final with a 2-0 lead and despite a second-half charge by Brazil was able to fend off the rally and win the tournament. A familiar face to current Mexico fans anchored the defense, with Rafa Marquez the key at the back for Manuel Lapuente's team, while Miguel Zepeda had by far his finest hour in an El Tri kit with two of his side's four goals.
Alexandra Brun
2005 U-17 World Championship final
It was the tournament that boosted so many in the current generation of Mexico stars to prominence. Giovani dos Santos earned the Silver Ball, while a number of other players on the roster that will face Brazil on Monday were also in the team that topped the South Americans 3-0 to lift the trophy in Peru.
Alexandra Brun
Vela launched to fame
A young Carlos Vela made his name in the 2005 U-17 final in Peru. Vela announced himself with a diving header to open the scoring, and his slick play in the middle of the park helped spark the move for Mexico's second, helping El Tri to a win over a Brazilian side that included a young Marcelo. In addition to Vela and Giovani dos Santos, Hector Moreno, Efrain Juarez and Adrian Aldrete also went to the professional ranks, with Moreno in the World Cup team in Russia but not available this week because of a suspension.
Maurico Lima
2007 Copa America Group B match
With Mexico and Brazil drawn into the same group, the teams' opening match of the tournament seemed important. It would be, with both teams finishing in the top three, but while Brazil won the tournament it was Mexico taking a 2-0 win to open the group stage.
Vanderlei Almeida
Nery Castillo's finest hour
Nery Castillo scored the opening goal with Ramon Morales adding a second in Mexico's Group B Copa America win over Brazil back in 2007. El Tri kept Brazil off the scoreboard for the rest of the match and ended up topping the group with two victories and a draw before falling to Argentina in the semifinals and being denied a rematch. Castillo's opener was the moment of the match, with the forward bringing a clipped ball down in the box before taking a touch over Maicon's head and and flicking it past onrushing Brazilian goalkeeper Doni.
Glyn Kirk
2012 Olympic gold medal match
A Mexico team featuring Hector Herrera, Marco Fabian, Giovani dos Santos and Javier Aquino among other names on the World Cup roster rode an Oribe Peralta double to a 2-1 victory over the favored Brazilians to win Olympic gold in London.
Glyn Kirk
Mexico keeps Neymar contained
The 2012 Olympic gold medal match saw El Tri frustrated Neymar for the majority of the game, which they'll hope to do again Monday, with overage goalkeeper Jesus Corona helping the team secure the international honor. Mexico survived a late push from Brazil, with Hulk slotting home in stoppage time to make it 2-1, and Oscar missing the target with a header that easily could have been the equalizer moments later showing just how fine the margins were for Mexico.
Fabrice Coffrini
2014 World Cup Group A contest
"San Memo" came up big as Mexico denied the host nation a perfect group stage with a 0-0 draw in Fortaleza. Goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa made four saves in the first half and two more in the second to keep the clean sheet.
Francois Xavier Marit
No goals for either side
The 2014 World Cup saw Mexico and Brazil drawn together again, but Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez couldn't make the difference as a super sub with Oribe Peralta and Giovani dos Santos also kept in check by the Brazilian defense. El Tri still were able to advance from the group without too much drama. Ochoa denied Neymar's 26th minute header and kept out what looked like a sure goal for Paulinho just before the break. Two more massive stops in the second half, one from Neymar and one from a Thiago Silva header, saved the draw.
Patrik Stollarz
2005 Confederations Cup group match
It's the same story as the Copa America, with Brazil eventually winning the tournament but Mexico pinning a defeat on the Selecao in the group stage to win the group. Brazil struggled with a well-drilled Mexico team as Ricardo La Volpe's men earned a 1-0 victory.
Patrik Stollarz
Borgetti finally finds the winner
After a series of near misses in the 2005 Confederations Cup clash, including a penalty that had to be retaken and was then missed, it was Jared Borgetti who headed in the 59th-minute winner for El Tri. Only a shootout defeat in the semifinals against Argentina denied Mexico what would've been a rematch against the Selecao for the Confederations Cup crown.