Mexico’s Striker Dilemma: Santi Giménez and Raúl Jiménez Spark Fresh Debate Ahead of Canada Clash

• by Arlen Fitzpatrick
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Storm Over the Number 9: Mexico’s Striker Dilemma

Just when you think Mexico’s search for a reliable striker has settled, the controversy flares up again. The national team is heading into a high-pressure CONCACAF Nations League semifinal against Canada, and suddenly, the spotlight is back on who should lead the line. The question splitting fans and analysts is simple: Santi Giménez or Raúl Jiménez?

The stats and recent form paint a pretty convoluted picture. Santi Giménez, fresh off a move to AC Milan and a stunning Champions League night where he bagged two goals against Bayern Munich, should have the inside track based on raw potential. But national team results tell a different story. It’s been five games since he last hit the net for Mexico, and that was all the way back in the Gold Cup final of 2023. To make matters worse, injuries have kept him off the pitch in crucial windows, and that absence has been just long enough for his main rival to stage a comeback.

Raúl Jiménez, now 33 and playing at Fulham, has had his own rollercoaster year. A long spell away from the Mexican squad put his international career in doubt, but he’s defied expectations and returned at just the right time. The highlight: a clutch goal in the quarterfinals against Honduras—reminding everyone he still has the knack for big moments under pressure.

Coach Javier Aguirre, alongside Rafa Márquez, now faces an awkward but fascinating call. Go with Giménez, the up-and-comer trusted in Europe, who turns heads at club level but is still waiting for his real breakthrough in the famous green jersey? Or hand it to Jiménez, whose critics had begun writing him off right before he proved there’s life in the old fox yet?

Profiles in Contrast: Youth or Experience?

What makes this topic so divisive is that both players bring something different to the table—and to the locker room. Giménez, just 22, is seen as the future. He’s got pace, movement off the ball, and the kind of fearless attitude you want from a modern forward. Plus, his ability to shine in Champions League games proves he isn’t intimidated by elite defenses. But the cold truth is that all those qualities haven’t translated into recent national team goals.

Jiménez couldn’t be more different. At this point, he’s the safest choice if you’re looking for consistency and leadership. His club numbers might not be staggering, but his positioning and understanding of what’s at stake in big matches give him an edge against tough teams like Canada. When the pressure mounts, Jiménez has experience to fall back on—something young Giménez can’t manufacture overnight.

So Aguirre has to decide: Does he give the nod to youth and trust the process, risking patience from fans hungry for goals? Or does he bank on experience and hope Jiménez can keep up his recent momentum for one more crucial run?

The stakes are huge. Canada is not the push-over it used to be, and whoever gets the call at striker could make or break Mexico’s run in the Nations League. For now, the only thing both camps can agree on is that whichever player starts, the pressure to deliver is higher than ever.