{"id":1109,"date":"2026-06-12T16:38:39","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T16:38:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/trustedmovinggroups.com\/?p=1109"},"modified":"2026-06-12T16:38:39","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T16:38:39","slug":"years-after-skull-fracture-mexicos-raul-jimenez-has-his-long-awaited-world-cup-star-moment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/trustedmovinggroups.com\/?p=1109","title":{"rendered":"Years after skull fracture, Mexico\u2019s Rau\u0301l Jime\u0301nez has his long-awaited World Cup star moment"},"content":{"rendered":"
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MEXICO CITY \u2014 Rau\u0301l Jime\u0301nez finally has his star moment in a World Cup for Mexico.<\/p>\n

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The 35-year-old striker burst into tears after scoring El Tri\u2019s second goal against South Africa as Mexico opened the 2026 World Cup with a 2-0 win.<\/p>\n

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It was the first World Cup goal for Jime\u0301nez, who suffered a skull fracture while playing for Wolverhampton on Nov. 29, 2020, and had to undergo life-saving surgery.<\/p>\n

Within two weeks, Jime\u0301nez was back at training. He fully recovered several months later, but the injury forced him to wear protective headgear for the rest of his career.<\/p>\n

Jime\u0301nez has suffered other injuries and dips in form in the years since, including a poor 2022 World Cup. He failed to score as Mexico failed to reach the knockout stage for the first time since 1978.<\/p>\n

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His biggest moment for Mexico may have been a bicycle kick in a victory against Panama in qualifying for the 2014 World Cup, which was honored as the CONCACAF goal of the year. He was a reserve player for El Tri during that tournament in Brazil.<\/p>\n

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More World Cup coverage from NBC News<\/h2>\n