Raul Jimenez is having his World Cup moment after defying the impossible
The scoreboard at the Estadio Azteca read Mexico 2, South Africa 0. Eighty thousand people celebrated a perfect start to the home World Cup. Meanwhile, Raul Jimenez stood in the middle of it all with tears in his eyes.
For most footballers, scoring in the opening game of the World Cup in front of their own fans would be a career-defining moment. To Jimenez, it felt like something even bigger. Because there was a time when the idea of playing another World Cup seemed wildly optimistic.
MAIN MEXICO VS SOUTH AFRICA
There was a time when the only victory that mattered was just waking up the next morning.
On Thursday night, six years after a fractured skull almost ended his career and his life, Jimenez climbed over the South African defense to power home a header that sent the Aztecs into a frenzy. He pointed to the sky and thought of his late father, who died earlier this year, before his emotions finally caught up with him. Raul Jimenez scored the winning goal for Mexico against South Africa. (Photo by Reuters)
FROM A HOSPITAL BED AT MS
The image of Jimenez celebrating in Mexico City could hardly have seemed further from what happened on November 29, 2020.
The Mexican striker, who played for Wolverhampton Wanderers against Arsenal, challenged David Luiz for a corner. The collision between the two players was disgusting. Jimenez became unconscious and required immediate medical attention before being transported to the hospital.
Doctors later confirmed that he had suffered a fractured skull and traumatic brain injury. Emergency surgery followed as medical staff worked to relieve pressure on his brain.
At that time, football became irrelevant.
The conversation was no longer about goals, transfers or form. Family members, teammates and supporters simply hoped he would recover. Jimenez later described his survival as a miracle, while those around him admitted there were times when they didn’t know what the future would hold.
The journey back was long and uncertain. He spent months recovering before gradually returning to training, initially on his own and later in controlled sessions where contact was limited.
Even basic football actions had to be relearned. Dribbling, once one of his greatest strengths, suddenly became something that required confidence and assurance again. Jimiez suffered a life-threatening head injury against Arsenal in 2020 (Photo: Screen grab from X)
A CAREER THAT REFUSED TO END
Getting back on the field was a challenge. Returning to the previous level was completely different.
Jimenez returned with a protective headgear and eventually returned to competitive football in 2021, but the goals did not immediately follow. The forward, who was once linked with some of Europe’s biggest clubs, appeared to be searching for rhythm and confidence.
His final spell at Wolves proved difficult and when he left Molineux in 2023, many questioned whether the best years of his career were behind him.
Instead, he rebuilt it.
A move to Fulham gave him a fresh start and gradually signs of the old Jimenez began to reappear. His movement improved, his self-confidence returned and, most importantly, the goals started coming again.
Mexico never lost faith either.
Over the past two years, Jimenez has played a key role in helping El Tri win both the Concacaf Nations League and the Gold Cup. While younger forwards have emerged around him, the veteran forward has continued to earn the coaches’ trust with his work ethic, intelligence and ability to perform in big moments.
That consistency ensured he arrived at a fourth World Cup with a chance to make history.
WORLD CUP MOMENTS YEARS IN THE MAKING
Remarkably, despite this being his fourth World Championship, Thursday marked Jimenez’s first start at the tournament.
He made six substitute appearances in 2014, 2018 and 2022 without ever scoring. It was a surprising statistic for a player who spent more than a decade at the helm of Mexico’s attack. That changed in the 67th minute. Raul Jiminez in tears after scoring for Mexico in their World Cup opener (Photo: Reuters)
When Roberto Alvarado delivered a dangerous cross into the box, Jimenez instinctively pounced on it and buried a protective header beyond Ronwen Williams.
One of the most feared consequences of his injury was whether he would ever feel comfortable attacking aerial balls again. Yet here he was, scoring perhaps the biggest goal of his career with a header on football’s biggest stage.
As the meaning of the moment faded, so did the emotion.
Earlier this year, Jimenez lost his father, Raul Jimenez Vega, and the celebration quickly became much more than just football. His gesture towards the heavens was followed by tears as his teammates embraced him in front of an adoring home crowd.
The record books will remember Jimenez scoring Mexico’s second goal in a 2-0 win over South Africa.
He will realize it was his 46th international goal, moving him level with Jared Borgetti as Mexico’s second all-time leading goalscorer. They will also remember that he arrived for his first start at the World Cup after four tournaments.
However, the numbers tell only part of the story.
It all led to Thursday night in Mexico City, when a striker who was once fighting for his life found himself at his home World Cup when he scored.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
Jun 12, 2026 09:53 IST