Raul Jimenez nearly died in 2020. Now he leads Mexico’s World Cup dream
The image has become so familiar that it is easy to forget why it exists. Every time Raul Jimenez walks onto a football pitch, the black protective headband accompanies him. It is no longer merely equipment. It is a reminder – of a collision that nearly killed him, of a career that almost ended, and of a second chance that has turned him into something bigger than Mexico’s No. 9. When Mexico begin another knockout campaign against Ecuador on Tuesday (Wednesday 6.30 am, IST), the country’s hopes rest not only on a resurgent team playing at home, but on a striker who knows more than most about second chances. “I was almost losing everything, even my life,” Jimenez told The Times. “So I’m trying to enjoy football as much as I can. Everything, not just football, everything I try to enjoy more.” ALSO READ | FIFA World Cup: Magical strike by Mexico’s most-loved striker It is a remarkable perspective for someone carrying the expectations of a nation that has spent decades trying to escape one …
