Fulham striker Raul Jimenez started in Mexico's 0-0 draw with Portugal, as the World Cup preparations continue to be ramped up. Mexico are in Group A of the tournament this summer and will face South Africa in the tournament opener, in a rematch of the 2010 curtain raiser.
Fulham striker Raul Jimenez started for Mexico as his side drew 0-0 with Portugal.
The 34-year-old looks destined to lead the line for his country as they co-host the World Cup this summer and though the scores remained 0-0 at the Estadio Banorte, it was a credible draw for Mexico.
Playing against a Portugal side which contained the likes of Bruno Fernandes, the frontrunner for the PFA Player of the Season after a stellar campaign for Manchester United, as well as Champions League winning midfielders Vitinha and Joao Neves, who both entered the fray at half-time.
There was no Joao Palhinha on the pitch for Portugal though, as the former Cottager continues to recover from an injury he picked up at Tottenham.
Despite the quality talent on show, neither side was able to break the deadlock, or even come close to doing so, with the 84,130 people inside the giant stadium in the Mexican capital watching a drab affair.
Jimenez played for an hour and due to the nature of the game, he was unable to get heavily involved in the final third, with only 18 touches.
He did create a single chance with those touches though and was also fouled four times as he tried to make the most of his limited involvement.
It was his 124th cap for his country, for whom he has scored 44 goals, which saw him join level with Calos Salcido in joint-10th for most appearances.
Jimenez, who has nine goals in 30 Premier League appearances for Fulham this season, is Mexico’s third-highest goalscorer, behind only legendary forward Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez, who scored 52 goals for his country, and Jared Borgetti’s 46.
That leaves Jimenez within touching distance of two records in Mexico’s next friendly match, against Belgium on Wednesday, with the chance to enter his country’s top 10 appearance makers outright and to become the second top scorer.
Belgium beat USA 5-2 on Saturday night, with Fulham’s Antonee Robinson assisting Weston McKennie for the first goal, before Belgium ran riot, as another Cottager, Timothy Castagne came onto the field.
Mexico are in Group A of the World Cup, alongside South Africa, South Korea and the winner of Czechia’s World Cup qualifier with Denmark, meaning we could see Jimenez take on Joachim Andersen.
Fulham fans can look forward to seeing Jimenez take centre stage in the opening game of the season, as Mexico face South Africa in a rematch of the 2010 opener.