UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Has a Mexican player ever scored on his UEFA Champions League debut?
Santi Giménez is expected to shake off an ankle injury to make his first appearance in the competition for Feyenoord against Lazio.
Mexican striker Santi Giménez is one of the hottest properties in European soccer at the moment after beginning the season with 13 goals in nine league matches for Feyenoord, including one in Saturday’s victory over Vitesse. However, the former Cruz Azul youngster was forced off in the second half with an ankle problem, which momentarily looked as if it could put his Champions League debut against Lazio in danger.
The 22-year-old has been made to wait for his first appearance in Europe’s elite club competition after missing the Dutch club’s opening two group stage fixtures against Celtic and Atlético Madrid through suspension. However, it now looks as if Giménez’s time has come, with Feyenoord coach Arne Slot revealing on Tuesday that he should be fit to play against the Italians in Rotterdam on Wednesday.
One Mexican player has scored in his first game in the UCL group stage
The forward will be looking to become only the second Mexican to score on his full Champions League debut, which international teammate Edson Álvarez achieved while playing for Ajax on matchday 1 of the 2019-20 group stage. The midfielder, now playing for West Ham in the Premier League, found the net in a 3-0 win over French since Lille at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam. Earlier in the season, the former Club América man had also netted in the final qualifying round against APOEL Nicosia of Cyprus.
Hirving Lozano also scored on his European debut for a third Dutch club, PSV Eindhoven, but his strike against Belarusian team BATE Borisov also came in the fourth qualifying round, the last one before the 2018-19 Champions League proper got underway.
Giménez’s Europa League goalscoring exploits
Only Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford and Victor Boniface of Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise scored more goals (six) in the 2022-23 Europa League than Giménez (five), who will now be expected to make the step up to the next level after a superb start to the season.
Which Mexican player has scored the most European Cup/Champions League goals?
16 Mexican players have scored at least one goal in the European Cup/Champions League, with the legendary Hugo Sánchez (17) and Javier “Chicharito” Hernández (14) the most prolific.