Jiménez or Giménez? It’s a ‘problem’ Mexico is happy to have

LOS ANGELES – Mexico head coach Javier Aguirre called it “a fortunate problem to have.”

Aguirre has two in-form strikers in Raúl Jiménez and Santiago Giménez. It appears, based on preferred tactics, that only one will start on Thursday night against Canada in the Concacaf Nations League semifinals.

“I know it’s overused but it’s applicable in this case. I’d rather have four great goalkeepers, four great center forwards, four great fullbacks … four of everything and have to deal with this challenge,” Aguirre told reporters in Mexico last month. “Coaches have to have tactical alternatives. We cannot only have one tactical idea.”

On Tuesday, Aguirre was asked again by the Mexican press about what is being referred to as the “Ji-Gi” dilemma in Mexico. Is he willing to start two center forwards against Canada?

“Coaches always think about what’s best for the team,” Aguirre said. “Of course they play together. I have no doubt that they can fit into the same tactical set-up together. No doubt. I want to be clear about that. We’ll see if we’re able to find a spot for them both, with and without the ball. I’m not losing sleep over this because in the end we have two very good players in the same position.”

Form is a highly subjective part of football. Giménez, 23, was acquired by AC Milan in February after three successful seasons with Dutch giant Feyenoord (45 league goals). He has scored two goals in seven matches for the Italian club as he gradually adapts to Serie A. Milan has been disappointing in 2025, so it’s no surprise that to start, Giménez has found it difficult initially to have the same impact he had in the Eredivisie. But for Mexicans, Giménez represents a modern footballing export, a goal-scorer with a bright future in Europe.

Surely he should start for El Tri, right? Perhaps it’s not so simple.

“Center forwards go on streaks,” Aguirre said. “I was told that Santi hasn’t scored in five games (with Milan). But he’s working hard. I’ve watched his games and he works hard for his team. They’re both in good form right now. Either one could start.”

To further complicate things for Aguirre, Giménez and Jiménez provide two very different alternatives tactically, which has a domino effect on the rest of the squad. Jiménez is a skilled connector who can play in a more withdrawn role, almost like a No. 10, while also having freedom across the front line. Giménez is more of a classic goalscorer who relies on sharp build-up play and accurate service. With Milan, he has been asked to be more versatile, and that should bode well for Mexico, whether he starts or not.

Champagne problems have been rare for Mexico as of late. Mexico hasn’t had a reliable star at the center forward position since Javier “Chicharito” Hernández, who last played for the national team in 2019. Now, El Tri may have two legitimate European-based No. 9s at precisely the right time.

When Mexico announced its 26-man squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Giménez’s absence rankled fans and pundits alike. Shortly before revealing the final list, then-manager Tata Martino told reporters that he and his staff valued the young striker, who at 20 had left Mexico to play in the Netherlands. At the time, Giménez had scored four goals in the Europa League as he attempted to break into the Feyenoord starting XI. He quickly became one of Europe’s rising talents.

“When no one was thinking about him at the end of last year, we believed that he would fight for a place,” Martino said shortly before announcing his final World Cup squad.

Giménez’s efforts weren’t enough to unseat veteran strikers Henry Martín and dual-national Rogelio Funes Mori. Martino also chose to take Jiménez to Qatar even though the Fulham striker had not been the same since suffering a serious head injury in 2020. Jiménez and Funes Mori disappointed, and Mexico was eliminated in the group stage after scoring just two goals in three matches.

In an interview with ESPN Mexico on Tuesday, Martino stood by his decisions. He was asked if he had considered taking Giménez in the hopes that the inexperienced striker would break out on the sport’s biggest stage.

“Evidently I made a different decision,” Martino said. “I insist though, that Giménez was a different player to the one we’re seeing today. It’s not an excuse, but one has to focus on those particular moments. You can believe that a young player can be the solution. On the other hand, we felt that we could help (Jiménez) find his previous form. It’s happening now. We tried but perhaps we couldn’t get to Raúl’s best version. We were committed to recovering the player who had been so good for us those first two years.

“Three years later, Santi might be the best Mexican player at the moment,” Martino continued. “But I’ve watched him in the Gold Cup and Nations League and he’s still a highly debated player. He’s on the right path. Milan has acquired him, one of Europe’s top institutions. I’m also very happy to see how Raúl has recovered and his form in the Premier League.”

In 23 starts for Fulham this season, Jiménez, 33, has scored 10 goals and added three assists. As Martino alluded to, the former Wolverhampton No. 9 has regained his confidence and is playing like a Premier League veteran at a crucial time for his national team.

It wouldn’t be a shock if Aguirre opted for the more seasoned Jiménez in their knockout match on Thursday night. Last summer, when given the chance to start at Copa América, Gimenez didn’t score once, and Mexico embarrassingly failed to get out of the group. He understands that he’s competing with one of Mexico’s most respected players for the team’s most highly coveted role.

“Competition is good, I’ve always said that and I’m going to stand by that,” Giménez told TV Azteca on Tuesday. “When you’d watch (Lionel) Messi and Cristiano (Ronaldo), one of them would score two goals and the other would score three the next day. That’s what healthy competition should be like. I admire Raúl as a striker. He’s an example and I’ve looked up to him since I was a kid. He’s a great center forward. I hope we can both contribute to the national team the way we have and continue to excel with our clubs in order to earn a call-up.”

(Top photo: Hector Vivas/Getty Images)