Raul Jimenez

Raul Jimenez is a Mexican professional striker known for his physicality, hold-up play, and aerial ability. He came through Club America before moving to Europe, spending time at Atletico Madrid and Benfica before joining Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2018. His development at Wolves was interrupted by a life-threatening skull fracture in November 2020, from which he made a full recovery. He subsequently moved to Fulham and has been a consistent scorer in the Premier League, cementing his status as Mexico's first-choice centre-forward.

Jimenez leads the line for Mexico in their 2026 World Cup opening match against South Africa at the Estadio Azteca on 11 June, playing as the focal point of Javier Aguirre's 4-3-3. His role is to hold up play, bring midfielders into the game, and provide the aerial threat on set pieces, all crucial against a South African side that will look to defend deep and counter.

Playing the World Cup opener in Mexico City, in front of a sold-out Azteca crowd, carries particular significance for a player who overcame a career-threatening injury to return to Premier League level. Jimenez is one of Mexico's most experienced international strikers, and his reading of the game and link play will be as important as goalscoring in establishing Mexico's territorial control.

Mexico's tournament ended in the last 16, beaten 3-2 by co-host England at the Azteca on 5 July after Jude Bellingham scored twice in 98 seconds; Jimenez converted a 69th-minute penalty as Mexico rallied from two goals down before England held on with ten men following Jarell Quansah's dismissal. It was Jimenez's second goal of the tournament after his header in the opener against South Africa, and the last kick of Mexico's World Cup as co-hosts.