Raul Jimenez · Biography

In June 2018, newly promoted Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers took Raúl Alonso Jiménez Rodríguez (born 5 May 1991 in Tepeji del Río, Hidalgo) on loan from Benfica. The deal cost three million euros and included an option to buy. A year later Wolves took up that option and signed him permanently for £30 million, the club's record fee at the time. The Mexican striker already had two Portuguese league titles and an Olympic gold medal. In England he became the leading scorer of a side that was back in European competition.

Youth career and debut at América

Before reaching the first team, Jiménez won several titles with Club América's under-20 sides. He made his top-flight debut on 9 October 2011 against Monarcas Morelia at the Estadio Azteca, on matchday 12 of the Apertura 2011. He won the league in the Clausura 2013, when América beat Cruz Azul on penalties in the final, and he scored his kick in the shootout. He played 103 games for the club, with 38 goals and 17 assists.

Atlético de Madrid and Benfica

In 2014 Atlético de Madrid paid €10.5 million for him. His only season in Madrid brought 28 appearances and one goal. In 2015 he joined Benfica on loan, with the Portuguese club paying around €9 million for 50% of his rights, and in 2016 they bought him outright for €22 million. In Lisbon he won back-to-back league titles in 2015-16 and 2016-17. He finished as top scorer of the 2015-16 Taça da Liga with four goals, one of them a penalty in the 6-2 final win over Marítimo. The 2016-17 Taça de Portugal followed, won 2-1 against Vitória de Guimarães, and then the 2017 Super Cup, where he came off the bench to score the third in a 3-1 win. He left Portugal with 120 appearances and 31 goals.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

In his first season in England, 2018-19, he scored 17 goals in 44 games, and his teammates voted him Players' Player of the Season. He was named PFA Player of the Month in November 2019 and won the club's Player of the Season award in 2019-20. That season he scored 10 goals in 15 European matches, including braces against Crusaders and Pyunik in Europa League qualifying.

The skull fracture

On 29 November 2020, five minutes into a league game at the Emirates Stadium, he clashed heads with Arsenal defender David Luiz. He suffered a fractured skull, had surgery shortly afterwards and missed the rest of the season. He returned in pre-season 2021 wearing a protective head guard, which he went on to wear for the rest of his career. On 26 September 2021 he scored again, the only goal in a 1-0 win at Southampton. His first spell at Wolves produced 57 goals in 166 games.

Fulham and return to Wolves

Fulham announced his signing on 25 July 2023 for a reported £5.5 million, on a two-year contract with the option of a third. In London he played 115 games and scored 31 goals. His contract expired in June 2026, and on 9 June that year Wolverhampton, by then in the Championship, confirmed his return as a free agent on a two-year deal.

Mexico national team

He won Olympic gold at London 2012, coming off the bench in the final as Mexico beat Brazil 2-1. He made his senior debut against Denmark in January 2013. On 11 October that year he scored with a bicycle kick against Panama at the Azteca in a 2-1 World Cup qualifying win, and the goal was named CONCACAF Goal of the Year. He won the 2019 Gold Cup, scoring five goals and taking the Golden Ball; in the final against the United States, his back-heel set up the only goal for Jonathan dos Santos. In 2025 he won the CONCACAF Nations League as top scorer and Golden Ball winner, then the 2025 Gold Cup, equalising against the United States in the 27th minute of the final before Mexico won 2-1.

Four World Cups

He played at the 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026 World Cups. At the last one, hosted by Mexico, he scored his first World Cup goal on 11 June 2026, the second in a 2-0 win over South Africa in the opening match at the Azteca. He scored again in the 2-0 win over Ecuador in the round of 32 and from the penalty spot in the 3-2 defeat to England in the round of 16. He finished the tournament with three goals and reached 5 July 2026 with 128 caps and 47 international goals.