From near death to World Cup hero – Jimenez’s tears for Mexico

It was a moment Raul Jimenez had waited his whole life for – and one that seemed impossible a few years ago.

The Mexico striker could have died on the football pitch in November 2020 when a sickening head injury left him with a fractured skull.

Now, less than six years later, the 35-year-old was overcome with emotion when he powered in a header to give Mexico a 2-0 victory over South Africa at the famous Azteca Stadium in the first match of the 2026 World Cup.

Jimenez, who had connected with Roberto Alvarado’s right-wing cross to score his country’s second goal, leapt high, celebrated wildly and then pointed to the sky – seemingly in tribute to his father Raul Jimenez Vega, who died in March.

As the majority of the 80,000 fans went wild, Mexico’s players mobbed the Wolves striker, the achievement sunk in for Jimenez, who was then in tears.

“We really congratulated him because he gives a lot to the team,” said Julian Quinones, who scored in the ninth minute for the opening goal of the competition to put Mexico ahead.

“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.”

Jimenez’s goal was the 46th for his country in his 125th appearance, moving him joint second in Mexico’s list of goalscorers, behind only Javier Hernandez on 52.

Even when the game started, Jimenez was breaking new ground in his career.

He had previously made six substitute appearances in World Cup finals – one in the 2014 tournament, two in 2018 and on three occasions in 2022.

But, in his first World Cup start, he almost made an immediate impact, having a powerful half-volley superbly saved by South Africa’s Ronwen Williams in the fourth minute.

Jimenez, who earlier this week completed a move from Fulham to former club Wolves, sealed the victory in the 67th victory to ensure co-hosts Mexico made a winning start.

Former England defender Gary Neville, speaking on ITV, said: “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 added: “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.”

After spells at Mexican side America, Atletico Madrid and Benfica, he had a loan period at Wolves in 2018-19, scoring 13 Premier League goals as his side came seventh to earn European qualification.

That led to Wolves signing him for a then-club record £30m, with Jimenez scoring 17 more league goals in 2019-20.

But his life changed on 29 November, 2020.

A horrific and accidental clash of heads with Arsenal defender David Luiz left Jimenez unconscious.

In the minutes that followed, his team-mates, manager and family watched on, worrying whether he was still alive, with him receiving oxygen on the pitch.

The recovery was slow. He was not allowed to train with other players for six months and he did not play for Wolves again for eight months, before he scored his first goal since the injury by grabbing the winner in a 1-0 victory at Southampton in September 2021.

He moved to Fulham in 2023 and had three seasons with the Cottagers, before confirming his return to Molineux earlier this week.

Edu Rubio, Wolves’ assistant manager in 2022-23, now works in the United States as assistant head coach at Major League Soccer side Sporting Kansas City and was delighted to see Jimenez get his first goal at a World Cup finals.

“It would’ve meant the world to him,” Rubio told BBC Sport. “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.

“It’s the first game, a large crowd, so this would be a dream come true for him and his family.”

Rubio, who also had spells as assistant manager at Crystal Palace and West Ham, felt Jimenez fully deserved such a moment after what he has been through.

“After his head injury it took a bit of time to get back into the career,” said Rubio.

“There were not just medical concerns, but also would he be the same killer in front of goal? His application is tremendous, he is a lovely guy, his family are beautiful and very supportive and that has helped him.

“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.

“It was life-threatening injury and I felt scared for him. At that moment he was doing so well, he was at the top of his career and it was very difficult.”

But Jimenez’s determination has led to him scoring 68 Premier League goals in 233 appearances. Even now, he still needs to wear a reinforced headband to protect himself from further injury.

“Having known him I could see why he has been able to get back on to the pitch [after the injury] and get back into his form,” added Rubio. “He is a fighter. I worked with him in his last year at Wolves. There were doubts, even with himself, that he was going to get back into it and that last year at Wolves was a challenging year for him.

“But there were no doubts for me personally, I always knew he would get back into it. I’ve worked with many top professionals and you can see he has the resilience and has a lovely family supporting him.

“Everyone there [at Wolves] loved him, the whole club wanted him to do well and the whole club was invested for him to get back so it was very emotional, not only because of his career, but also because he is such a loving character.

“He was so invested in the club, the city and his family felt like it was home, that’s why I feel they will be delighted to be going back there.”

But, before Jimenez will be back in the West Midlands, he has further chances to score more World Cup goals in his home country, with Mexico already in a strong position to advance into the knockout rounds.