Tomás Boy

Boy started his career in the Atlético Español in the 1971–72 season. After three years at Atlético Español, Boy went to Atletico Potosino. Boy moved to Tigres UANL in 1975 where he made his professional debut on 2 March 1976 against Club América in a 1–0 loss. Boy scored his first professional goal on 27 December 1975 in a 3–1 win against C.D. Guadalajara. Boy appeared in 36 matches (started 35) in the 1975–76 season. In the 1976–77 season Boy had another well performed season, Boy appeared in 33 games and scored eight goals. Although Boy had a good season, Tigres lost to Zacatepec in the 1977 playoffs. The following season Boy and Tigres had a good season. Boy appearing in 33 games and scoring six goals helped Tigres qualify to the 1978 playoffs. Boy scored two goals in Tigres six post season games, Boy helped Tigres win the 1977–78 title when Tigres defeated UNAM Pumas 3–1 in aggregate score. Boy appeared in 37 matches and scored ten goals in the 1978–79 season, helping Tigres make the playoffs again. The following season Boy appeared in 31 games, he scored six goals but got three red cards. Boy appeared in eight games in the 1979 post season scoring one goal in the first match against América. Tigres eventually ended up losing to Cruz Azul in the 1980 final in a 4–3 aggregate score. Boy had his best season statistically in 1980–81, scoring 15 goals in 38 matches. Although Boy had a good season, Tigres did not make the 1981 playoffs. The 1981–82 season did not start well…

Towards the end of the 1970s, Boy was considered one of the top Mexican players, so Mexico national team coach José Antonio Roca's decision not to call him up for the 1978 FIFA World Cup surprised the media and the audience. Boy made his international debut in a friendly match against the Soviet Union, which Mexico won 1–0 with a goal by Hugo Sánchez. He scored his first international goal on August 24, 1984, in a friendly match against Hungary in Budapest, Hungary. In 1985 Boy made his most appearances and goals with Mexico, appearing in 20 matches and scoring seven goals. After being called up for the 1986 FIFA World Cup, Boy made his World Cup debut against Belgium. He played 90 minutes with Mexico winning 2–1 with goals by Fernando Quirarte and Hugo Sánchez. In the second match against Paraguay, he started the match but was substituted in the 58th minute by Miguel España. Mexico drew with Paraguay 1–1 with Luis Flores scoring Mexico's only goal. In the third match against Iraq he played the full 90 minutes, Mexico won 1–0 with a goal by Fernando Quirarte. After winning their group Mexico faced Bulgaria in the Round of 16. Boy played 80 minutes until he was substituted by Carlos de los Cobos. Mexico won the match with goals by Manuel Negrete and Raúl Servín. Mexico faced West Germany in the quarterfinals, Boy was substituted by Carlos de los Cobos again this time in the 32nd minute. Mexico eventually fell to West Germany in penalty kicks after going scoreless in 120…

Boy played as a forward in his youth career, despite coaches who wanted to deploy him in defensive positions. He stated that his main influence as a footballer was Pelé. Developed into an attacking midfielder, most of his career in Tigres he functioned as an offensive-midfield playmaker, playing as a winger occasionally. On the Mexico national team, Boy played as a classic number 10. A right-footed set-piece specialist with a thin physique, he was renowned for his ball control, vision and his ability to set the pace in midfield and provide through-balls and assists for his teammates with both legs. Boy is considered by specialist as one of the greatest Mexican footballers ever. After his death, journalist José Ramón Fernández, ranked him as the third best Mexican footballer of all time, below Hugo Sánchez and Rafael Márquez. In 2018, while broadcasting the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, Fernández also compared Boy with Italian icon Roberto Baggio. In the same broadcast, David Faitelson and Jorge Ramos compared him with Zico. About his style, Boy once stated "I had the style of Zidane, but I was faster."

Former Mexico's coach Miguel Herrera stated that Tomás Boy "as a player, he is one of the greatest my eyes have ever seen."Ricardo La Volpe wrote that Boy was a "spectacular midfielder in that time, an already modern player" and listed him in his historical ideal eleven of the Mexican League. After Tigres' first League championship, he received offers to emigrate to Italian…

Boy was born in La Condesa and raised in Bosques de Echegaray, a Naucalpan suburb, both in Mexico City into a middle class Catholic family. He is the eldest of eight children. Boy has acknowledged that his relationship with his father, an accountant, was difficult and even violent. Encouraged by his mother, Boy left the house at seventeen to pursue a professional football career. About his personal life in his playing years, he stated that he was "more of a bohemian" that "liked to live". Boy is of German and Italian descent.