Mexico is the champion of the 2015 Gold Cup tournament.

It was a bumpy ride for Mexico, filled with controversy, injuries, draws and last second wins. The team recently competed at the Copa America mostly with backup players in order to prepare for this event, and that decision paid off. With this championship win, Mexico has now won the CONCACAF tournament seven times, two more than the United States, who has the second most ever.

Jamaica failed to win its first ever Gold Cup, but still had a fantastic run. The Jamaican team upset the heavily favored U.S. and became the first ever Caribbean team to make it to the finals. Although it came to a disappointing end, Jamaica appears to have a bright future.

As for Mexico, Miguel Herrera's job is safe for now. This is Herrera's first Gold Cup championship as a head coach for Mexico, and it couldn't have come at a better time. Mexico recently took a huge hit in the new FIFA rankings falling 17 spots to No. 40 in the world.

Expect that ranking to change.

Without a doubt, the biggest reason Mexico triumphed once again was team captain Andrés Guardado. Mexico's best player and informal leader Javier Hernández was unable to play a single game in this Gold Cup after he fractured his collarbone in an international friendly against Honduras. With their most skilled player and best goal scorer out, Mexico looked to be in dire shape.

Not so fast.

Guardado stepped up for Mexico in elite fashion. He scored in two of the three group stage games for Mexico, against Trinidad and Tobago and Cuba. But his best was yet to come. In the quarterfinals he scored a clutch goal against Costa Rica in extra time via penalty kick.

In the very next round, Guardado found the net twice more, this time against Panama. His second goal against Panama came in extra time and was eventually the game-winner.

In the finals against Jamaica, Guardado scored the very first goal of the match in the 31st minute off a one-timer with his left foot in the middle.

Only Clint Dempsey, with three goals against Cuba, scored more than Guardado this Gold Cup.

Not only did Guardado provide the much needed spark on offense for Mexico, but he gave everything for El Tri in this tournament. Guardado's passing was simply amazing, setting up teammates time and time again. If Carlos Vela had finished successfully against Panama in the semifinals, Guardado may have had even more assists. Guardado was the field general for Mexico, dictating everything to perfection.

CONCACAF awarded Guardado the "Best Player" honor of this tournament. Guardado previously won a Gold Cup in 2011 against the U.S., but he played the "Robin" role to Hernandez that year. In many ways, this couldn't have worked out better for Mexico. Now they know just how good Guardado is, confident that he can  succeed at the national level, even without Hernandez on the field by his side.

Mexico has a huge game against the U.S. coming up on Oct. 9. The winner of that game will earn a spot in the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia. Mexico last won the Confederations Cup in 1999 when they defeated Brazil in the finals.

Follow Damon Salvadore on Twitter @DamonSalvadore1