Francisco Javier Cruz

Lore & Background

Cruz was born in Cedral and moved to Monterrey at age 5. He is the 8th youngest of 10 children. His father discouraged him from pursuing football. He played for C.F. Monterrey, where he was instrumental in winning the club's first championship and was top scorer in the Mexico 86 tournament (tied with 14 goals). He also assisted Sergio 'Alvin' Perez's goal that saved the team from relegation in May 1999. He later played for Tigres UANL, helping return the team to the First Division after its privatization. In April 1998, he signed with the San Antonio Pumas of the USISL. He also played briefly for CD Logroñés in Spain. He played for Mexico, including the 1986 FIFA World Cup quarterfinal against West Germany, where he scored a disallowed goal. He missed the 1994 World Cup due to an injury suffered while scoring the goal that qualified Mexico. He retired as a player on May 9, 1999. He later sought a coaching role but never became one; he also worked as a recruiter for Tigres UANL but left that role. He aspires to coach in the Liga de Ascenso. He gave himself the nickname El Abuelo in his teenage years in honor of his late grandfather. After retirement, he fell into depression, worsened by his parents' deaths, developed an eating disorder, reached 313 pounds, and underwent gastric bypass surgery after being diagnosed with high blood pressure and diabetes. He has three daughters from a previous marriage.

In Their Own Story

The roar of the Azteca crowd fades into a distant hum as Cruz dribbles past two defenders near the sideline. It is late afternoon, the Mexican sun casting long shadows across the grass. He doesn't look up to see the goal; he knows exactly where his teammates are without seeing them. A quick feint to the left sends a defender stumbling, and with a delicate touch of his instep, he slips the ball through a gap no wider than a coin. The net ripples as the ball finds its home. He doesn't sprint in celebration; instead, he simply raises a hand to the stands, a quiet acknowledgment from the magician who has once again turned the impossible into art.

Reader's Guide

Francisco Javier Cruz is a former Mexican striker known for his success with both Monterrey and Tigres UANL, scoring in the Clásico Regiomontano and being loved by fans of both teams. He is not associated with Club América.

Did You Know?

• Cruz is nicknamed 'El Abuelo' ('The Grandfather'), a name he gave himself in his teenage years in honor of his late grandfather.
• He scored a goal in the 1986 World Cup quarterfinal against West Germany that was disallowed for offside.
• He missed the 1994 World Cup due to an injury suffered while scoring the goal that qualified Mexico.
• After retirement, he struggled with depression, an eating disorder, and weighed 313 pounds before undergoing gastric bypass surgery.