Hernandez rides on Mexican wave
Prolific goalscorer eager to take nation far in tournament
IDeputy Editor Sports f you were to ask football fans “Who is Javier Balcazar?” you will most likely be met with confused silence. But if you were to mention his more common name — Javier Hernandez — or his nickname — Chicarito — the penny will drop. Mexico’s all-time topscorer with 49 goals in 100 games — a tremendous record considering he is only 29 — has a host of domestic and international honours to his name including a Mexican Primera Division title, a couple of Premier League winners medals, a Club World Cup trophy and a Concacaf Cup.
There is one glaring omission on that roll of honour — and that of Mexico as a whole: a World Cup. Or even a decent run in the World Cup.
Mexico have, for all their flair and promise, only ever reached the quarter-finals twice, in 1970 and 1986, both times they were the host nation.
However, one word that is mentioned whenever they are talking up their chances is “Chicarito”.
The ‘Little Pea’ began his career with Mexican side Guadalajara in 2006 and his performances earned him the admiration of thenManchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson. After making his full debut for Mexico national side, the Scot eventually brought Hernandez to Old Trafford in 2010, making him the first Mexican player to sign for United. He went on to record a goals-to-game ratio that is still one of the most prolific at the club.
After he fell down the pecking order under Ferguson’s success or David Moyes and then Louis van Gaal, he went out on loan to Real Madrid, where he helped them to the Uefa Champions League semis, and then secured a permanent move to Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen in Germany in the summer of 2015. where he bagged a stunning 39 goals in 54 matches. He moved to London and West Ham last summer and the goals have continued to flow.
He certainly has unfinished business with Mexico, too. He was part of the squad in 2010 and 2014 and only has a pair of roundof-16 exits to show for it.
A testing Group F including Germany, South Korea and Sweden awaits them this time around, but they should safely navigate their way into the knockout rounds.
He is hailed as an instinctive goal-getter and there is no doubting his ability to get the ball in the net. And that is just what Mexico will be looking for in Russia.
He [Javier] is a very good player, he was a great teammate for someone who liked to make goals like myself. He was the perfect centreforward.”
Ryan Giggs | Former Man United teammate and current Wales manager ahead of the friendly We want to be world champions, of course, and that’s why we’re going [to Russia]. We don’t want to put limits in any way.”
Javier Hernandez | Mexican striker