On November 29, 2020, Raúl Jiménez went up for a routine header during Wolves vs Arsenal. What happened next nearly cost him his life.
He collided head-first with David Luiz from a corner kick and immediately collapsed. The stadium fell silent as players from both teams watched in shock while medics rushed onto the pitch.
Jiménez was given oxygen, stretchered off, and taken straight to hospital. Doctors later discovered he had suffered a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain. Emergency surgery was performed that same night.
The injury was so severe that doctors told him it was a miracle he survived. Jiménez himself has since described his survival as a miracle.
For months, nobody knew if he would ever play football again. Many feared his career was over.
Eight months later, wearing a protective head guard, Raúl Jiménez returned to the pitch and resumed doing what he loves most.
Tonight, he scored in the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
From fighting for his life to scoring on football’s biggest stage.
One of football’s greatest comeback stories 💚