Why does Raul Jimenez still wear head protection and what happened to Mexico star?

Raul Jimenez will be leading the line for Mexico this evening, and he will be wearing head protection.

The 35-year-old is out to take his nation to the World Cup quarter-finals by getting past England in the Azteca.

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Jimenez he has started three of four World Cup games so far and scored in the wins over South Africa and Ecuador with Mexico one of the only teams yet to concede at this tournament.

He is one of Mexico’s greatest players and his comeback from a truly horrendous head injury has been one of modern football’s great stories.

What happened to Jimenez?

In 2020 while playing for Wolves in the Premier League during lockdown, the striker had a sickening clash of heads with Arsenal‘s David Luiz.

The incident happened in November 2020 at a time when Jimenez had just helped Wolves to back-to-back seveth-place finishes.

He was one of the best strikers in the Premier League before the injury.

The clash led to a horrifying skull fracture that required immediate life-saving brain surgery.

He was immediately taken to hospital and doctors told him he was lucky to still be alive.

Speaking about the incident and subsequent surgery in 2021, Jimenez said: “They told me it was like miracle to be there.

“[There was] the skull fracture, the bone broke and there was a little bit of bleeding inside the brain. It was pushing my brain to the inside and that is why the surgery had to be quick. It was a really good job by the doctors.

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“Since the first moment [the doctors] told me the risks.

“Because they are doctors they have to tell you the truth and you have to take it. The skull fracture did take a little longer than we all expected to heal but it is a miracle to be here.”

“I remember we arrived at the stadium, I left my things in the dressing room, went out with my teammates to see the pitch and then we returned to the dressing room – and then it’s like lights out.

“I remember nothing else. I can remember when I first woke up in the hospital and I can remember some other things from the hospital but nothing really clear.”

The then 30-year-old spent ten days in hospital but returned to play for Wolves in the following pre-season.

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He then joined Fulham and got back to scoring regularly in the Premier League.

And with his contract up, he is set for an emotional return to Wolves after the World Cup.

Why does Jimenez still wear the head protection?

Following his return to football, it was announced that he would have to wear a head guard for the rest of his career.

Tests have shown there is no lasting damage, but there is a huge scar from the collision and surgery.

The protective gear is to cover the scar and give Jimenez protection.

It has also likely given him the mental confidence to continue playing at the top level.