Raúl Jiménez

At 32 years old, Raúl Jiménez has this physical status:

Ral Alonso Rodro (American Spanish) is a Mexican professional footballer who competes for Premier League clubs Wolverhampton Wanderers and the Mexico national team.

Jiménez began his career in Club América's youth system before debuting in the first division in October 2011. He won his first championship with América in 2013 and was the team's second-highest goalscorer. Jiménez joined Atlético Madrid, Spain, in August 2014. He signed for Benfica, where he won two straight league titles in addition to other major awards, after one season. During his three years with the Portuguese team, he has made 120 appearances and scored 31 goals. Jiménez joined Wolverham Wanderers on loan in June 2018 and was the team's top scorer with 17 goals in all competitions. He joined Wolves on a permanent basis the following year and became a versatile and prolific striker, but he missed nine months due to a serious head injury between November 2020 and August 2021.

Jiménez was a member of the Mexico under-23 team that earned the gold medal at the Summer Olympics in 2012. Jiménez has represented his country in the 2014 and 2019 FIFA World Cup, the 2013 and 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup, and the Copa América Centenario, as a full international since 2013.

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Club career

Jiménez began his playing for Club América's youth system, where he was regarded as a promising young striker. Jiménez made his professional debut during the Apertura tournament against Monarcas Morelia, a match that ended in a 1–1 draw on September 9, 2011. In a 2–3 loss to Puebla, he scored in the 2nd minute of the game for his first goal on October 30. In his debut tournament, he appeared six times and scored one goal.

Jiménez did not appear in the Clausura 2012 until February 11th, a big loss to Atlas, who came as a second-half replacement for Christian Bermodez. In the 1–1 draw against Tijuana at the Estadio Caliente on March 9, he scored his first goal of the tournament. Jiménez played twelve times and scored once during the Clausura, with América being eliminated from the semi-finals by Montery.

Jiménez, despite being involved in Mexico's Summer Olympics and the auction of Vicente Matuoso, earned a spot in América's starting eleven for the 2012 tournament, alongside Christian Bentez in boss Miguel Herrera's 5–3–2 tactical philosophy, winning second-striker alongside Christian Bentez in Mexico's 5–3–2 tactical scheme. He was also given the unoccupied number 9 shirt, in place of the number 47 shirt he wore when he first wore it. Jiménez scored on September 15 in the Estadio Azteca's 2–0 victory over Santos Laguna. In the 1–1 draw against Monarcas Morelia, he would continue scoring two weeks later. During América's 2–1 victory over San Luis, Jiménez earned his first red card, meaning he would miss El Séper Clásico against Guadalajara. In the 4–0 victory over Pachuca on November 3rd, he scored his second goal in the 4–0 victory over Pachuca. In the second leg of the quarter-finals, Jiménez scored in the 1–2 loss to Morelia on Friday. Despite the humiliation, América won the series by a 3–2 aggregate score and advanced to the semi-finals. Toluca will eventually disqualify América in the semi-finals. Jimenéz finished the tournament with sixteen appearances and four goals.

Jiménez started the Clausura 2013 tournament as a starter in the first two league matches and scored his first brace against Atlante on January 19th. In América's 3–0 win over Querétaro on February 2, he scored another brace. Jiménez scored two headers in the 2–0 victory over Guadalajara at the Estadio Omnilife on March 31. Jimenéz scored in América's 1–0 away victory over Pumas UNAM in the first leg of the quarter-final series of the playoffs on 8 May and finished the regular phase of the tournament with eight goals. Jimenéz won the match 2–1 (4–3 on aggregate) over Montero in the second leg of the semi-final series against Montery, scoring on a penalty and assisting Christian Benitez in the second goal to win the match 2–1 (4–3 on aggregate). In the subsequent penalty shoot-out, Jiménez played in both legs and scored, América then triumphed, securing the league champions.

Jiménez scored his first goal of the Apertura tournament on August 3, 2013 in a 3–0 win over Atlas. In each of the next three games over Atlante, Pachuca, and Morelia, respectively, he will score in all three matches, bringing his total goal tally to four goals in five matches played. In América's 1–2 loss to Santos Laguna on September 13, he would score again on September 13. In the 2–0 win over Guadalajara on October 5th, Jiménez scored a header and assisted in Luis Gabriel Rey's goal. Jiménez had seven goals in twelve games played in the Apertura's regular season. He scored in the second leg of the quarter-finals against Tigres UANL, which culminated in a 1–1 draw at the Estadio Azteca on December 1st, with América winning despite a 2–2 aggregate score due to the away-goals' reign. América will win the semi-final matches against Toluca and advance to the league final once more, but after losing both legs to León, América will fail to win the repeat.

Jiménez made 17 appearances and scored 8 goals in the Clausura 2014 tournament. Jiménez won a hat-trick in the 5–3 victory over Santos Laguna in the quarter-final match against Santos Laguna on April 30. Despite a 6–6 aggregate score due to the away-goals rule, América will miss the second leg of the series 1–3 and be barred from the playoffs.

Jiménez scored four goals in the first three games of the Apertura 2014 tournament. He scored his first goal in América's 2–1 victory over Tijuana on July 26, 26th. In the 4–0 victory over Puebla on August 4, he scored a hat-trick and aided Oribe Perf. Jiménez played his last game for América against Tigres UANL on August 9, 2014, and he was responsible for Miguel Layn's second goal in the 2–0 victory.

Atlético Madrid and Club América for Jiménez signed an agreement on August 13, 2014, a fee that was estimated to be in the region of €11 million. After passing the medical exam, he signed a six-year contract the following day. Jiménez made his debut in the final of the Ramón de Carranza Trophy pre-season tournament against Sampdoria on August 16th, beginning the game and being ruled out in the 79th minute. Atlético defeated Atlético 2–0.

Jiménez played his debut in the Supercopa de Espaa's first leg on August 19, 1–1 draw against Real Madrid, with the final 12 minutes playing in place of fellow debutant Mario Manduki. Jiménez appeared in the second leg as well as a substitute for Antoine Griezmann in the 73rd minute of the match, resulting in a 1–0 win and a total score of 2–1.

Jiménez made his La Liga debut against Rayo Vallecano on August 25th. In a 4–0 victory over Sevilla on September 27, he scored his first league goal for Atlético. It was his first goal for Atlético this season.

Jiménez, who had been scheduled to end a loan contract with West Ham, failed to turn up for his medical after reports that he had missed his flight to London because he had overslept. However, several sources had reported that Jorge Mendes had hoped to get to Benfica's Primeira Liga team.

Jiménez signed a five-year contract with Portuguese champions Benfica on August 13, 2015. Benfica paid Jiménez to the club, but the transfer fee was not included in the equation. The €9.836 million transfer fee may have been paid for by a €1 million transfer fee as well as the purchase of 50% of the player's economic interest.

Jiménez scored his first goal for Benfica against Moreirense on August 29, scoring a header in the 75th minute to level the score 1–1. Benfica later defeated Benfica 3–2.

Jiménez scored his first two goals in the UEFA Champions League on Friday, with both ends in each half scoring as Benfica salvaged a 2–2 away draw against Astana. Benfica defeated Zenit Saint Petersburg 2–1 away on March 9, 2016, defeating them in the Champions League quarter-finals. Jimenéz shot a long-range shot that was saved by Yuri Lodygin onto the bar in the 85th minute of the match, but the ball returned to Nicolás Gaitán, who tied the match 1–1. In the 21-0 victory over Académica on April 9, he came off the bench and scored the winning goal, securing Benfica's lead in the Primeira Liga. Jiménez began the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final match against Bayern Munich, scoring the first goal in the 2–2 draw at the Estádio da Luz, four days later; Benfica were banned from the competition due to Jonas' suspension in the first leg.

He scored another winner in the league on April 24th, this time scoring the lone goal against Rio Ave., extending Benfica's lead in the league. Benfica were crowned league champions after beating Nacional 4–1. Jiménez came on as a second-half replacement on May 15th. In the 6–2 win over Martimo in the Taça da Liga final, the competition's top goalcorer with four goals, five days later, he capped off the season's scoring from the penalty spot.

On July 21, 2016, Benfica purchased the remaining 50% of Jiménez's economic rights for €12 million. Jiménez was the most expensive player in Portuguese football history, according to several expenses outside of the transfer fee (this remains unsubstantiated), and the most expensive Mexican player. He appeared in the Taça de Portugal final last season, beating Vitória de Guimares (2–1) by a score of 2–1.

In their 3–1 Super Cup victory over Vitória de Guimares, Jiménez came off the bench to score Benfica's last goal. Following a convincing 5–1 win over Tondela, Jiménez made his 100th appearance for Benfica in all competitions on December 17th.

Benfica loaned Jiménez to Wolverhampton Wanderers, a newly promoted Premier League club, on a season-long loan for €3 million, with a buyout clause of €38 million. It was announced on June 29th that he had extended his deal with Benfica until June 2021 before being loaned out.

Jiménez made his official debut with the team on July 22nd in a semifinal match against VfL Bochum in the H-Hotels Cup, where he failed to convert a penalty, the first in the team's history. Jiménez scored his equalizing goal, giving the home team a 2–2 draw with visiting Everton on the first weekend of the Premier League season. Jiménez scored the only goal in the victory over Burnley on September 16th. He played a role in the league against Manchester United on September 22nd. In a 2–0 victory over Southampton, Ivan Cavaleiro scored the first goal. Jiménez contributed to Matt Doherty's goal in his team's 1–0 away win over Crystal Palace on October 6th, his third assist of the season, meaning Jiménez was involved in three league games for Wolves, including the first three after scoring in the game prior to that. He was the assistant to Ivan Cavaleiro in the 1–1 draw against Arsenal on November 11, raising his season assist total number to four. In a 2–1 victory over Chelsea at Molineux on December 5, Jiménez scored Wolves' first goal. In Wolves' 2–0 victory over Bournemouth on December 15, Jiménez scored the first goal. It was the first time Wolves had won three consecutive Premier League games and the first time they had won three in a row in English football since 1980.

Jiménez tied Steven Fletcher as the Wolves player with the most Premier League goals scored in a single season on March 10, 2019, with his goal against Chelsea in their 1–1 draw. In a 2–1 home victory over Manchester United to advance to the FA Cup semi-finals, Jiménez' third goal in the cup and his fifth appearance in all competitions.

Wolves had exercised their €38 million decision to sign Jiménez on a four-year deal, with the loan transfer becoming permanent on July 1st. The transfer was for a reported £30 million, much more than Adama Traoré's £18 million transfer. He scored his team's second goal in the FA Cup semi-finals against Watford at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday, despite wearing a Sin Cara wrestling mask; Wolves eventually lost 3-2. Former Watford player Luther Blissett had Jiménez dismissed him as disrespectful.

In the 2–1 away win over Watford, he scored his 13th Premier League goal in a single season, becoming the Wolves player with the most goals scored in a single Premier League season. Jiménez played 17 goals in all sports, and capped his season by being named the Wolves Player of the Season on May 15th.

Nuno Esprito Santo forbidding Jiménez from attending the team's pre-season tour in China and possibly the club's Europa League debut in order to rest after the summer games he had with the Mexico national team. After scoring a brace against Crusaders in the second qualifying round of the 2019-2020 Europa League, he scored his 50th and 51st goals in Europe on August. Jiménez scored another brace to help Wolves beat Armenian side FC Pyunik 4–0 in the third qualifying round. In a 1–1 draw against Burnley on August 25, he scored his first Premier League goal of the season, converting from the penalty spot at the 97th minute. In a 1–1 loss against Arsenal on 2 November, he will score his team's equalizer in the 76th minute. In a 3-3 draw against Portuguese club Braga on Saturday, he will score a goal and two assists. Jiménez was named PFA Player of the Month in November as a result of his November debuts.

Jiménez, who scored Wolves' second goal in the team's 3–2 home victory over Manchester City, scored his eighth goal in the Premier League and 17th across all competitions, equaling his total from last season. In a 3–2 win over Southampton on January 18, he would score a brace against him to become the premier league's all-time top scorer. Jiménez set a new record for the most goals by a Wolves player in a single Premier League season on June 20, scoring a header in the 2–0 away victory over West Ham United on Sunday. He finished the season with 27 goals in total and was part of the team's triumph in the UEFA Europa League's quarter-finals, but lost a penalty against eventual winners Sevilla. Despite this, he was named Wolves' player of the season by both fans and his teammates.

Jiménez made his 100th appearance for Wolves in their first league game of the season on September 14th, kicking in the third minute against Sheffield United. He was named Man of the Match by BBC Sport for his role in the team's 2–0 victory. Jiménez had signed a four-year contract extension with Wolves, effectively ending rumors of a transfer.

Jiménez was knocked unconscious after a match of heads with David Luiz at the Emirates Stadium on November 29th, five minutes into Wolves' Premier League match against Arsenal. Despite Luiz's minor injuries, Jiménez had to be stretchered off and was admitted right away to a hospital for serious injury, where he was eventually identified. He had fractured his skull in the match with Luiz and had to have surgery shortly after hospitalization, effectively ending his season.

Jiménez returned to playing in pre-season for the first time since his head injury, but it was announced that he would have to wear a head guard for the remainder of his career. Jiménez scored in his sixth Premier League game of the 2021–22 season on September 26, defeating Southampton 1–0. Jiménez' second goal of the season, scored in a 2–1 victory over Everton on November 1st is his second goal for the club in all competitions (as well as his fifth goal against Everton in five appearances).

Jiménez received his first red card of his career with Wolves after collecting two yellow cards in less than a minute during the first half of a 1–0 loss to Manchester City, resulting in a one-match suspension. In Wolverhampton's 2–0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on February 13, he scored his fifth Premier League goal and first club goal of 2022. After losing two yellow cards in a 3-2 loss at home to Leeds United on March 18, 2022, he received his second red card of his Wolves career.

In a 1–0 away loss to Tottenham Hotspur at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on August 20, 2022, Jiménez made his debut for Wolves in the 2022–23 Premier League as a second-half replacement. He was back from a few weeks sidelined with injuries to his knee and groin in a pre-season match, but injuries had kept him out of Wolves' first two games of the Premier League season.

In the EFL Cup's first match for Wolves in 2022–23 season, Jiménez got off to a 2–1 victory over Preston North End at Molineux, scoring his first goal in the ninth minute.

International career

Jiménez was chosen by coach Luis Fernando Tena to compete in the Toulon Tournament with the under-23 squad this year. In the 4–2 victory over the Netherlands in the semi-finals on May 30, Jiménez scored Mexico's third goal. Mexico would win the final after defeating Turkey 3–0, with Jiménez earning a starting berth and playing 65 minutes.

Jiménez was the last one to make the team for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. On July 26, he made his Olympic debut in the group stage match against South Korea, ending in a 0–0 draw, with Jiménez coming in as a replacement and close to scoring a late penalty, with the ball ricocheting off the goalkeeper's left-hand post. He made his appearances against Switzerland, Senegal, Japan, and Brazil in the final before being used as a replacement in those matches. Mexico will win the gold medal after beating Brazil 21-0.

Jiménez made his senior national team debut against Denmark in a 1–1 draw on January 30, 2013, starting as a second-half replacement.

Jiménez was selected in the 23-man squad in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup held in Brazil and played in all three group games for a total of 96 minutes on May 20, 2013. He was listed in the starting eleven for the third match against Japan on June 22, after being called off in the 90th minute for Mexico's 2–0 victory.

Jiménez was selected in Mexico's 23-man squad for the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup on June 26, 2013, prompting the departure of midfielder David Cabrera due to injury. He was a starter and appeared in every group stage match, winning in Mexico's 2–0 victory over Canada on July 11th. Jiménez's only goal in the quarterfinal victory over Trinidad and Tobago was on July 20th. In the semifinals, Mexico will be defeated by Panama.

Jiménez will kick off a bicycle kick goal that resulted in Mexico's 2–1 victory in October 11, 2013, in which Mexico needed a victory to not complicate the qualification process, but not complicate the qualification process, and the goal will remain to win the 2013 CONCACAF Goal of the Year. Jiménez was announced in coach Miguel Herrera's last 23-man squad in the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 5th. He did not appear in Mexico's opener against Cameroon. Jiménez played his World Cup debut against host country Brazil on June 17th, appearing as a replacement for Giovani dos Santos in the 84th minute.

In Mexico's second game of the 2015 Copa América tournament against hosts Chile, Jiménez went from a corner to give Mexico the 2–1 lead in a dramatic 3–3 draw at the Estadio Nacional. He scored from the penalty spot in Mexico's upcoming match against Ecuador on June 19, but Mexico was disqualified in last place in their group after Gabriel Achilier brought down Hugo Ayala.

Juan Carlos Osorio called Jiménez up to participate in the Copa América Centenario. He made three appearances but did not score.

Jiménez was included in the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup roster. He scored his only goal in the tournament against New Zealand to tie the game 1–1; the team will advance to win the match 2–1.

Jiménez was selected in Mexico's 23-man final squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. He would continue to play as a substitute in both the first group-stage match against Germany and the round-of-16 match against Brazil, but did not score.

Jiménez was included in the Mexico squad for the CONCACAF Gold Cup on June 5, 2019. Jiménez scored twice in El Tri's 7–0 victory in the team's debut match against Cuba. Mexico defeated Martinique 3–2 in the 3–2 victory, winning 3–3 on Group A and advanced to the knockout round for the third time. He scored his third goal in the 3–2 victory. Jiménez scored in the 1–1 draw and then missed his penalty in Mexico's 5–4 shootout victory. After being fouled in the first half of extra time, Jiménez scored the game's only goal via the penalty spot in the semi-final match against Haiti on July 2nd. Jonathan dos Santos' goal was the only one of the match as Mexico defeated their eighth Gold Cup in the final against the United States, but Jiménez gave Jonathan dos Santos' goal a back-heel pass. He was given the Golden Ball Award for his participation in all six of Mexico's matches and scoring five goals.

In El Tri's 3–0 victory over Panama on November 15, Jiménez scored a brace and provided an assist.

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