After everything Raul Jimenez has endured, a header at the Azteca Stadium on Sunday became one of football’s most emotional moments in recent memory.
The 35-year-old striker powered home Mexico’s second goal in a 2-0 victory over South Africa, marking his first ever start at a World Cup finals tournament.
Jimenez connected with Roberto Alvarado’s right-wing cross before leaping, celebrating wildly, and then pointing to the sky in an apparent tribute to his late father, Raul Jimenez Vega, who passed away in March.
As 80,000 fans roared inside the famous Azteca Stadium, Mexico’s players mobbed the Wolves striker before he was overcome with visible emotion and reduced to tears.
The goal was his 46th for his country in his 125th appearance, moving him joint second on Mexico’s all-time scoring list, behind only Javier Hernandez on 52.
Julian Quinones, who had earlier scored in the ninth minute to open the tournament’s scoring, paid tribute to his team-mate after the final whistle.
“We really congratulated him because he gives a lot to the team,” said Quinones. “Being part of a team is our pride and it’s wonderful he continues to add goals to his career as a player in our national team.”
Former England defender Gary Neville, speaking on ITV, described the moment in glowing terms for the striker. “That is likely to be the greatest moment of his life from a football perspective, scoring in front of 80,000 in that stadium, in his home country. It is a great moment for him.”
Ex-England striker Ian Wright was equally moved by what he witnessed from the co-hosts’ number nine during the contest. “It was very emotional for Raul Jimenez. If it was me, I would probably feel the same. The thing about it is when he scores the goal as he runs off, you can see the realisation and that is where the emotion comes.”
The celebration carried extra weight given what Jimenez faced in November 2020, when a horrific accidental clash of heads with Arsenal defender David Luiz left him with a fractured skull and unconscious on the pitch.
In the minutes that followed, team-mates, coaching staff, and family members watched on in fear, with Jimenez receiving oxygen before being taken to hospital.
He was not permitted to train with other players for six months and did not feature for Wolves again for eight months, eventually returning to score the winner in a 1-0 victory at Southampton in September 2021.
Edu Rubio, who served as Wolves’ assistant manager and now works as assistant head coach at Major League Soccer side Sporting Kansas City, told BBC Sport the goal would have been deeply personal for Jimenez.
“It would’ve meant the world to him,” said Rubio. “He is very proud of playing for his country and loves his country. He wears the number nine, his country is a hosting country for this World Cup so all the elements were there for him.”
Rubio also reflected on the severity of the injury and the personal qualities that allowed Jimenez to rebuild his career so remarkably over the following years.
“It was a life-threatening injury and I felt scared for him,” said Rubio. “At that moment he was doing so well, he was at the top of his career and it was very difficult.”
“He is a very family person. He is a big player but never acts like one and he is very humble and I’m delighted for him,” Rubio added, speaking warmly of the striker’s character throughout his time working together.
Jimenez, who completed a return to Wolves from Fulham earlier this week, still wears a reinforced headband during matches to protect against further injury, a lasting reminder of the ordeal he survived.
He had previously only appeared as a substitute at World Cup finals, making six such appearances across the 2014, 2018, and 2022 tournaments, making Sunday’s start all the more significant for him.
With Mexico already well-placed to advance into the knockout rounds of a tournament they are co-hosting, Jimenez will have further opportunities to add to his World Cup tally on home soil.
