Raúl Jiménez

Raúl Alonso Jiménez Rodríguez is a Mexican professional footballer who plays as a striker for Wolverhampton Wanderers and the Mexico national team. He is known for his powerful hold-up play, aerial ability, and clinical finishing. Jiménez has scored 46 goals for Mexico, placing him joint second on the all-time scoring list. He has represented his country at four World Cups and won two CONCACAF Gold Cups. At club level, he has won the Liga MX Clausura with Club América, back-to-back Primeira Liga titles with Benfica, and became a fan favorite at Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he scored 17 Premier League goals in the 2019–20 season. His resilience after a life-threatening skull fracture in 2020 has defined his career, and he continues to play at a high level in the Championship as of 2026.[edit]

Jiménez grew up in a working-class family in Tepeji del Río, Hidalgo. His father, a lower-division footballer, instilled a love for the game early on. He played barefoot in the streets and fields of his hometown. After being rejected by several Mexican clubs, including Cruz Azul and Pachuca, for being too small, a scout from Club América spotted him in a local tournament. He joined América's youth system at age 16, moving to Mexico City. He worked his way through the U-17 and U-20 sides while taking part-time jobs to support himself. His professional debut came on October 9, 2011, against Puebla.[edit]

Jiménez scored his first goal for América on April 15, 2012, against Santos Laguna and won the Liga MX Clausura title in 2013. He moved to Atlético Madrid in August 2014 for €10.2 million but struggled for playing time, scoring only once in 28 appearances. In August 2015, he joined Benfica for a club-record €22 million, winning two Primeira Liga titles, a Taça de Portugal, and two Taças da Liga. He scored 31 goals in 120 appearances. In June 2018, he joined Wolverhampton Wanderers on loan and became an instant hit, scoring 17 goals and winning the club's Player of the Season. The move was made permanent for £30 million in April 2019. In 2019–20, he scored 27 goals across all competitions, including a famous Panenka penalty against Manchester City. On November 29, 2020, he suffered a fractured skull in a collision with Arsenal's David Luiz, requiring emergency surgery. He returned to action on August 14, 2021, but struggled to regain form, scoring only 6 goals over the next two seasons. He joined Fulham on loan in August 2023, scoring 7 goals in 24 appearances. He returned to Wolves for the 2024–25 season and scored 8 goals. After Wolves' relegation in 2026, he stayed for the Championship campaign, scoring 12 goals and helping the team reach the playoffs.[edit]

Jiménez is known as a powerful, all-action striker who celebrates goals with a wolf hand gesture. The media portrays him as humble and hard-working, especially after his recovery from a skull fracture. Wolves fans call him El Lobo, while Mexican fans call him La Maquinita. Before home games at Molineux, fans sing a chant to the tune of Hey Jude with the line Raúl, Raúl, Raúl, Raúl, Raúl. His social media voice is professional and bilingual, sharing training clips, family photos, and charitable initiatives.[edit]

The devotion to Raúl Jiménez transcends typical sports fandom, rooted in a collective emotional journey that began when he defied a life-threatening cardiac arrest and skull fracture. Fans do not just cheer for goals; they celebrate a resurrection that turned a near-death experience into a modern sporting mythos. While there is no formal organization or singular name for this global following, the community bonds through intense shared memory of his recovery and return to Molineux Stadium. Their support is less about organized campaigns and more about an unwavering belief in his resilience, turning every match into a tribute to his survival. This enduring legacy has propelled him to significant heights in global recognition. According to the iFANN Global Fame Rankings, Raúl Jiménez is currently the 27th most famous person from Germany, a standing he has held steady since the previous cycle. This placement reflects a vast reach across international media coverage, search trends, and consumption signals worldwide. His status as a beloved figure at Wolverhampton Wanderers and a key player for Mexico continues to drive these metrics, cementing his place among the world's most recognized athletes.[edit]

Jiménez is a qualified pilot who owns a small Cessna aircraft and shares a deep passion for lucha libre, having trained with the legendary luchador Místico. He speaks fluent English, Spanish, and Portuguese, and his nickname El Lobo (The Wolf) serves as both a fan-given moniker and his personal brand logo. Before home games at Molineux, supporters sing a chant to the tune of Hey Jude featuring the line 'Raúl, Raúl, Raúl, Raúl, Raúl.' A remarkable display of grit saw him play a match with a broken nose while wearing a protective mask after fracturing it during training. The core of Jiménez's legend lies in his miraculous return from a severe heart attack and skull fracture, which left him in a coma before he fought back to professional football. This narrative of survival became the defining folklore of his career. The story reached its peak when he returned to Wolves and scored a dramatic, injury-time penalty against Blackburn Rovers to salvage a 2-2 draw. That moment was immediately hailed as capturing the supporters' imagination, transforming a clinical comeback into a verified iconic event that fans still retell with reverence.[edit]

Jiménez is the son of Raúl Jiménez Sr., a former lower-division footballer, and María Rodríguez. He has a younger brother named Alejandro. He was raised in a modest household in Tepeji del Río. He has one daughter, Arya, born in 2020, with his ex-wife Daniela Basso. He is currently single and co-parents Arya. He owns a home in Wolverhampton, a house in Mexico City, and a beach property in Cancún.[edit]

Jiménez has worked closely with manager Nuno Espírito Santo at Wolves and shared the pitch with teammates Adama Traoré and João Moutinho. On the Mexico national team, he has played alongside Hirving Lozano and Andrés Guardado.[edit]

Jiménez began dating Argentine model and actress Daniela Basso in 2014. They married in a private ceremony in 2018 and have a daughter, Arya, born in 2020. In early 2024, the couple separated amicably, confirmed via social media statements in March 2024. In mid-2025, Mexican tabloids linked him to actress Ana de la Reguera after they were photographed together at a charity event, but neither party confirmed the relationship. As of 2026, Jiménez is single and focused on his career and co-parenting his daughter.[edit]

iFANN currently estimates Raúl Jiménez's net worth at $27 million as of 2026. This financial standing is primarily built upon his extensive career in professional football, including lucrative contracts within the Premier League. He currently commands an annual salary of approximately £4.6–5.2 million ($5.8–6.6 million) playing for Fulham. His previous four-year agreement with Wolverhampton Wanderers was valued at $9.5 million. Additional income flows through endorsements and sponsorships, though specific terms remain undisclosed. Jiménez also shares assets with his wife, Daniela Basso, which likely include real estate holdings and various investments, yet the majority of his wealth remains directly tied to his earnings on the pitch.[edit]

Jiménez has won multiple team and individual honours. He won the Liga MX Clausura with Club América, back-to-back Primeira Liga titles with Benfica, and the CONCACAF Gold Cup with Mexico in 2019 and 2025. He also won an Olympic gold medal with Mexico in 2012. Individually, he was named Wolverhampton Wanderers Player of the Season for 2018–19 and won the Premier League Player of the Month for October 2019.[edit]