Mexico and the United States will face off this Sunday at NRG Stadium in Houston in a highly anticipated Gold Cup final.
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Jiménez reached 41 goals with the Mexican national teamEl Tri is aiming for back-to-back Gold Cup titlesMexico is chasing its 10th championship, while the USMNT looks to win its eighthFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱AFPTELL ME MORE
Raúl Jiménez put recent finishing struggles behind him to help Mexico edge Honduras 1-0 in their Gold Cup semifinal. El Tri will now face the United States in the CONCACAF Gold Cup final, where they'll look to defend their crown and capture a historic 10th title.
After a dull first half with few chances – and Mexico's first shot on target arriving as late as the 37th minute – Jiménez broke the deadlock in the 50th minute. The goal came from a well-placed assist by Gilberto Moreno, giving Mexico a much-needed boost after a slow start.
Just three minutes later, Edson Álvarez appeared to double the lead following a chaotic sequence inside the box, which began with a free kick from Roberto Alvarado. However, the goal was disallowed due to an offside call, denying Mexico a more comfortable advantage.
Honduras pushed forward and pinned Mexico back in the closing minutes, but managed just one shot on target against goalkeeper Luis Ángel Malagón throughout the entire match. Despite a lackluster performance and without much flair, Mexico showed why they deserved their place in the final.
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Jiménez has now reached 41 goals with the Mexican national team, trailing only Javier Hernández (52) and Jared Borgetti (46) as the third-highest scorer in history, ahead of legends like Cuauhtémoc Blanco, Luis Hernández, and Carlos Hermosillo.
AFPTHE MVP
Raúl Jiménez has established himself as Javier Aguirre’s preferred striker heading into the Gold Cup final. Clearly in better form than Santiago Giménez, Jiménez will lead Mexico’s attack against the United States – and is shaping up to be the frontrunner for the starting role at the 2026 World Cup.
Aguirre began the tournament with both forwards in the starting lineup, just as he did during Mexico’s Nations League triumph. However, as the competition progressed, it became clear that the team performed more effectively with a single striker. Faced with the decision between Jiménez and Giménez, Aguirre opted for the veteran – a choice that paid off on Wednesday, as Jiménez scored a brilliant goal to sendto the final.
Honorable mention goes to Gilberto Mora, who, at just 16 years old and in only his second appearance with the Mexican national team, recorded his first assist.
Getty Images SportTHE BIG LOSER
The biggest loser of Mexico’s Gold Cup campaign is undoubtedly Santiago Giménez. The striker has not scored a single goal, and his time with the national team so far hasn’t lived up to expectations. As a result, he’s lost his starting spot to Raúl Jiménez, and under Aguirre, his minutes on the pitch have been significantly reduced.
It’s likely a frustrating situation for the young forward, especially given the high hopes surrounding his development. Still, Giménez has maintained a positive attitude and has consistently shown himself to be a team player, supporting the group as long as results go Mexico’s way.
While he remains a promising talent, his lack of impact in this tournament will make him one of the most criticized figures in El Tri’s current squad. His time will come – but for now, he is having a Gold Cup performance under a cloud of disappointment.
