The 35-year-old Mexico striker could have died in November 2020 when he suffered a brutal head injury, but on Thursday (11.06.26) night he struck a header to help his country to a 2-0 win over South Arica in the opening game of the 2026 World Cup.

The emotional was all over the face of Jimenez after he scored the second goal of the game, and he raced towards the corner before pointing up to the sky.

As well as the emotion of scoring his first ever World Cup goal in his fourth tournament, the special moment came months after his father Raul Jimenez Vega died in March this year.

His fellow goalscorer Julian Quinones said after the game: "We really congratulated him because he gives a lot to the team.

"Being part of a team is our pride and it's wonderful he continues to add goals to his career as a player in our national team."

As well as the special goal, Jimenez was also making his first ever start in a World Cup, having previously made six substitute appearances across his previous three.

Half of those came in 2022, while he came on twice in 2018, and just once in 2014.

Former England and Manchester United star Gary Neville said on ITV: "That is likely to be the greatest moment of his life from a football perspective, scoring in front of 80,000 in that stadium, in his home country.

"It is a great moment for him."

Jimenez, who played his 125th match for Mexico, is now joined second in the country's all-time goalscorers with 46, just short of Javier Hernandez's return of 52.

Earlier this week, he completed a move from Fulham to his former club Wolves, having first joined on loan from Atletico Madrid in the 2018/19 season, when he netted 13 goals in the Premier League.

He decided to join the club on a £30 million deal, scoring 17 league goals in the 19/20 season.

His head injury forced him out of action for a long spell, as it took him six months to train with other players, and a further two until he played for Wolves again.

He returned in September 2021 before signing with Fulham in 2023 for three seasons, and he's now poised for an emotional return.