'I was doing well… and then he left me out' - Mexico's Santiago Giménez breaks silence on 2022 World Cup snub by Gerardo 'Tata' Martino

Santiago Giménez has finally opened up about the painful experience of being left out of Mexico’s squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. In an interview with YouTuber “El Escorpión Dorado,” the current AC Milan striker revealed that then-head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino had told him he was the starting striker - only to cut him at the last moment.

"I honestly saw myself on the list," Giménez said. "The last time I was called up, Tata told me: ‘You’re my starting striker right now, and if you keep playing like this, you’ll go to the World Cup.’ I started scoring, I was doing well… and then he left me out.”

Giménez’s exclusion caused backlash at the time, as the striker was enjoying a strong first season with Feyenoord, scoring consistently and impressing with his performances. Despite that, Martino left him off the final squad, arguing that Giménez lacked playing time - a rationale that was heavily questioned by both media and fans. Instead, the Argentine coach called up fellow countryman Rogelio Funes Mori, who was then playing for Monterrey. Funes Mori ended up playing just four minutes during the entire tournament, further fueling criticism toward Martino’s decision.

Giménez also detailed how he learned about the decision and criticized the way it was handled. According to the forward, he was flown to Girona along with Diego Lainez under the impression they would train with the team ahead of the final roster announcement. Just a few hours after landing, however, both were informed - via phone call - that they had been cut.

“They knew it would be a tough decision, so they wanted to get it over with quickly. But the way they did it was wrong - they told me over the phone. I flew to Girona because they said I’d be training in case something happened… like a backup option," Gimenez explained. "Lainez and I arrived, and two hours later, they told us we weren’t going. We got on a plane just to turn around and go back to Mexico.”

At just 24 years old, Giménez has yet to make the impact he would’ve hoped for with the Mexican national team. In 42 appearances for El Tri, the AC Milan striker has scored only five goals.