Santiago Giménez — Mexico World Cup 2026 Squad

Santiago Gimenez carries the weight of Mexico's No. 9 shirt and the expectation of a nation that has not produced a consistent elite striker since Javier Hernandez's prime. With 9 goals in 40 caps at 24 and a devastating scoring record at Feyenoord, Gimenez arrives at the 2026 World Cup as Mexico's most promising forward, though the step up to AC Milan will test whether his Eredivisie output transfers to a higher level.

Career Highlights

Gimenez won the Eredivisie golden boot in 2023-24 with 23 goals for Feyenoord, becoming the first Mexican to achieve the feat. He scored four goals in a single Champions League match against Lazio in November 2023, the first Mexican to score a hat-trick in the competition. His transfer to AC Milan in January 2025 for a reported 35 million euros made him the most expensive Mexican signing ever, surpassing the fee PSG paid for Hector Moreno. For Mexico, he scored the winning goal against Panama in the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup final, a header that ended Mexico's trophy drought at the tournament.

Club Career

Gimenez came through Cruz Azul's academy and scored 18 goals in 71 Liga MX appearances, including a brace in the 2021 Clausura final against Santos Laguna. Feyenoord signed him in July 2022 for a reported four million euros, a fee that now looks absurd in context. Under Arne Slot, Gimenez scored 15 Eredivisie goals in his first season and 23 in his second, forming a productive partnership with Calvin Stengs and orchestrating Feyenoord's title challenge. His finishing combines physicality — he wins 58 per cent of aerial duels — with a predatory instinct inside the box. AC Milan's decision to sign him reflected a need for a target man who could replace Olivier Giroud's physical presence, though adapting to Serie A's tactical rigor has proven more demanding than the Eredivisie's open exchanges.

International Career & World Cup History

Gimenez made his Mexico debut in 2021 under Gerardo Martino but struggled to displace Raul Jimenez and Henry Martin in the starting lineup. The 2022 World Cup passed without him — Martino left him out of the squad entirely, a decision that provoked fierce criticism when Mexico scored only two goals in three matches and failed to advance. Under Jaime Lozano and then Javier Aguirre, Gimenez's role expanded. He scored in consecutive qualifiers against Canada and Jamaica in 2024, and his Gold Cup final winner against Panama confirmed his status as Mexico's first-choice striker. With 9 goals in 40 caps, his international scoring rate remains below his club output, a gap he must close before the World Cup.

World Cup 2026 Outlook

Gimenez's World Cup debut coincides with Mexico hosting matches, placing him under unprecedented scrutiny. His Feyenoord scoring record proves he can produce at volume; his AC Milan transition determines whether he can do the same against the tighter defenses he will face in tournament football. Mexico's success depends on his finishing. If he replicates his Eredivisie form, Mexico have a genuine last-16 threat. If he carries his international scoring rate, they will struggle to score against organized opponents.