Raúl Jiménez

Lore & Background

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, winning the Clausura tournament, and was the team's second-highest goalscorer. In August 2014, Jiménez joined Spanish side Atlético Madrid. After one season he signed for Benfica.

He amassed 120 appearances and scored 31 goals during his three years with the Portuguese side, winning two consecutive league titles, among other major honours. In June 2018, Jiménez joined Wolverhampton Wanderers on loan, and was the team's top scorer with 17 goals across all competitions. He joined Wolves on a permanent basis the following year and became an instrumental and prolific striker, though spent nine months out with a serious head injury between November 2020 and August 2021.

Jiménez was a part of the Mexico under-23 squad that won the gold medal at the Summer Olympics in 2012. A full international since 2013, Jiménez has represented his country at four FIFA World Cups (2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026), three CONCACAF Gold Cups (2013, 2019 and 2025, winning the latter two), two FIFA Confederations Cups (2013 and 2017), and two Copa América tournaments (2015 and 2016). He is currently second on the national team's all-time scorer list with 47 goals.

Reader's Guide

Jiménez began his career playing for Club América's youth system. On 9 October 2011, under interim-coach Alfredo Tena, Jiménez made his professional debut during the Apertura tournament against Monarcas Morelia, in a match which ended in a 1–1 draw. He scored his first goal on 30 October in a 2–3 loss to Puebla. He appeared six times and scored one goal in his debut tournament.

In the Clausura 2012, he appeared twelve times and scored once. After the Summer Olympics and the sale of Vicente Matías Vuoso, Jiménez won a spot in América's starting eleven for the Apertura 2012 tournament. He ended the tournament with sixteen appearances and four goals. In the Clausura 2013, he finished the regular phase with eight goals, and scored in the quarter-final and semi-final, helping América reach the Final against Cruz Azul.

Jiménez played in both legs and scored in the subsequent penalty shoot-out which América ultimately won. In the 2013–14 season, he scored seven goals in twelve games in the Apertura regular phase, and in the Clausura 2014 made 17 appearances and scored 8 goals, including a hat-trick in the quarter-final. In the Apertura 2014, he scored four goals in the first three games, including a hat-trick against Puebla. His final game for América was on 9 August 2014 against Tigres UANL.

On 13 August 2014, Atlético Madrid reached an agreement with Club América for Jiménez, for a fee reported to be in the region of €11 million. He signed a six-year deal. Jiménez made his competitive debut in the first leg of the Supercopa de España on 19 August, a 1–1 draw against Real Madrid. He scored his first league goal for Atlético on 27 September, in a 4–0 win against Sevilla.

It was his only goal for Atlético that season. On 13 August 2015, Jiménez joined Portuguese champions Benfica, signing a five-year deal. Benfica spent €9.836 million to bring Jiménez to the club. He scored his first goal for Benfica on 29 August against Moreirense.

On 25 November, Jiménez scored his first two goals in the UEFA Champions League, striking at both ends in each half as Benfica salvaged a 2–2 away draw against Astana. On 9 March 2016, he helped Benfica to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League in a 2–1 away victory against Zenit Saint Petersburg. On 9 April, he came off the bench and scored the winning goal in the 2–1 victory against Académica.