Thierry Henry Explains Why Raul Jimenez Became Emotional After Scoring in Mexico’s FIFA World Cup 2026 Opener

Mexico began their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with an impressive 2-0 victory over South Africa at the Estadio Azteca, but one of the most memorable moments came after Raul Jimenez scored his first-ever World Cup goal.

The experienced striker doubled Mexico’s advantage after Julian Quinones had opened the scoring earlier in the match. However, it was Jimenez’s emotional reaction following the goal that captured the attention of fans around the world.

Thierry Henry Shares His Thoughts

Speaking after the match, former Arsenal and France legend Thierry Henry offered his perspective on why Jimenez appeared overwhelmed with emotion.

“Why was he emotional? Because I remember everyone thought his career was over, then he came back but I’m sure he was thinking of his dad.”

“He was looking at the boxes, and I think he realised his dad was not sitting there and seeing him score at a World Cup at the Estadio Azteca. I’ll be honest, we’re talking about emotion and we already have a massive emotional moment.”

Henry highlighted both the striker’s incredible recovery from a serious injury and the personal tragedy he suffered earlier this year.

A Journey Filled With Adversity

Jimenez’s football career was placed in serious doubt after he suffered a devastating skull fracture during a Premier League match in 2020. Many feared he would never return to top-level football.

The Mexican international fought his way back and eventually regained his place as one of his country’s most important players. His journey became even more challenging after the passing of his father just three months before the World Cup.

Scoring on football’s biggest stage in front of a packed Estadio Azteca crowd made the moment especially significant for the veteran forward.

Mexico’s Perfect Start

Jimenez’s goal helped Mexico secure a comfortable 2-0 win over South Africa in the opening match of the tournament. The victory gave El Tri a strong start to their World Cup campaign and boosted confidence ahead of their next group-stage fixture against South Korea.

The striker now has 46 goals in 127 appearances for the Mexican national team and remains one of the most experienced leaders in the squad.

Red Cards Overshadow the Match

Despite Mexico’s impressive performance, the game was also remembered for a series of disciplinary incidents. South Africa finished with nine players after Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane were both shown red cards.

Mexico captain Cesar Montes was also sent off during stoppage time, meaning neither side ended the match with a full eleven players on the pitch.

The three dismissals made the encounter one of the most chaotic opening matches in FIFA World Cup history.

Conclusion

While Mexico celebrated an important victory, Raul Jimenez’s emotional goal celebration provided one of the tournament’s most touching moments. Thierry Henry believes the tears reflected both the striker’s remarkable comeback from injury and the memory of his late father, making the goal far more meaningful than just another World Cup strike.