'Hope he can achieve it, and that those goals are important' – Mexico legend Jared Borgetti on Raúl Jiménez's chase to break El Tri's all-time scoring record

Raúl Jiménez’s climb up Mexico’s all-time scoring list has caught the attention of Jared Borgetti—the very player he’s chasing in second place. With 40 goals, Jiménez recently surpassed Cuauhtémoc Blanco (38) and Luis Hernández (35), and now sits just behind Borgetti (46) and Javier Hernández (52).

Borgetti is rooting for him to move up - but he hopes Jiménez’s goals come when they matter most.

“He’s close, I hope he can achieve it, and that those goals are important for the Mexican National Team, goals that come in games and tournaments like the ones he scored in the Nations League, because Mexico had never won it before,” Borgetti told GOAL.

“I hope those goals come, and that many more follow, not just from him, but also from everyone else coming up behind him. It should serve as motivation to know that we have to fight until the very end. Raúl has been there, unfortunately, he hasn’t arrived at the World Cups he’s played in at his best moment. This would be his fourth, and I hope he can arrive at a great moment so he can end his football career on a high note.”

Although Raúl Jiménez’s professional journey has had its ups and downs, it’s nothing short of remarkable. After coming through the ranks at Club América and scoring 38 goals in 103 appearances, he made the leap to Europe with Atlético de Madrid in 2014. But his time in Spain didn’t go as planned - he managed just one goal in 28 matches before moving on after a single season.

Jiménez then headed to Portugal to join Benfica. He showed early promise, scoring in his second appearance for the club in 2015, but struggled to find consistency. He endured a nine-game scoring drought and finished his first season with just five goals in 28 games. Over three seasons, he totaled 31 goals in 120 appearances before moving to England.

It was at Wolverhampton Wanderers where Jiménez truly found his stride, becoming a fan favorite and one of the Premier League’s most reliable strikers. He scored 57 goals in 166 matches and appeared to be entering his prime - until tragedy struck. In November 2020, Jiménez suffered a life-threatening skull fracture in a head-to-head collision with David Luiz during a match against Arsenal. Doctors called it "a miracle that he’s alive." He was sidelined for nine months and faced an uncertain future in football.

But Jiménez battled back. Now with Fulham, he’s rediscovered his form and remains a key figure for both club and country, continuing a career that stands as a testament to perseverance and resilience.

"Raúl's journey is truly commendable; it hasn't been an easy career. It shows us that experience and time have shaped him. Let’s not forget that he arrived at Atlético de Madrid, where it was tough for him to play, then moved to Portugal where it took time to earn a starting spot, but that’s where he learned—he never settled. He learned from the players he worked with, and then he moved to England to a competitive league, knowing it was a great opportunity to continue his career in Europe," Borgetti said. "What he has done and how he’s grown is significant. It’s a shame about the injury he had at Wolverhampton because it halted that great moment and slowed his growth. I believe we would have seen an even better Raúl, those were his prime years, but the strength he’s shown to rise again is inspiring, and he proved to himself that he has the ability, and that keeps him happy. When you're happy on the field, everything becomes easier."

Raúl Jiménez has an Olympic medal. He won a gold medal with the Mexican national team at the 2012 London Olympics. Jiménez played a crucial role in Mexico's historic victory in the final against Brazil, contributing to the team's 2-1 win. This victory marked a significant achievement in Mexican football, as it was their first-ever Olympic gold in football. The Mexican delegation has not won another Olympic gold medal since the one they won in football that year.