Javier “Chicharito” Hernández is once again in the eye of the hurricane, but this time not for his goals, but for the intense loyalty of his followers in the face of what they considered an “attack” by the Mexican sports press.
The spark that set off the gunpowder was an uncomfortable question during his official presentation with Atlético Dallas, the new franchise of the USL Championship (second division in the United States), a destination he arrived after a discreet and eventful second cycle with Chivas del Guadalajara that did not finish flourishing as the fans expected.
The forward was directly questioned about what feeling he had in announcing his participation in a lower category, just at a time when contemporary figures of his generation, such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Luka Modric, continue to play in tournaments at the highest level. A “nothing” that unleashed the digital storm
Hernández, faithful to his direct and somewhat distant style, responded with such coldness that he claimed to “feel nothing” about it. Although for many the statement could have ended there as a simple press exchange, on digital platforms the story took an aggressive turn.
The fans of the attacker from Guadalajara came to his defense with enormous force, arguing that sports journalism in Mexico is obsessed with minimizing the achievements of its own soccer players.
Hundreds of comments surrounded the former forward of the Sacred Flock, while the reporter who asked the question – and the journalistic union in general – was severely pointed out under the premise that the national press “leaves much to be desired” when it comes to evaluating careers. Career decisions under the magnifying glass
Beyond the indignation of the networks, hard data invites a colder analysis. The reality is that the decisions made throughout the career of the so-called “Chicharito” directly affected his path to adding more World Cups to his record.
Hernández participated in three consecutive World Cup tournaments: South Africa 2010 Brazil 2014 Russia 2018
However, he was just one step away from competing in Qatar 2022 due to severe disciplinary problems and internal ruptures within the Mexican National Team locker room, a factor that suddenly cut short his continuity in the Tricolor process and prevented him from extending his legacy on the field. The historical pedestal and the numbers debate
No one can erase the fact that Javier Hernández's brilliant stages mathematically consecrate him as the best forward in the history of the national team with 52 scores. However, the debate about the statistics in the Tricolor is more alive than ever due to the recent pace of their pursuers. While Borgetti remained static, Raúl Jiménez continues adding and stalking the historical peak.
This is how the fight is on the analysis table: –Javier “Chicharito” Hernández: 52 official goals | 109 matches played | Absolute historical leader of Tri.–Jared Borgetti: 46 official goals | 89 games played | The best effectiveness average.–Raúl Jiménez: 45 / 48 Official Goals | 112 Matches Played | Asset. There are 45 officers (some say 48 cucumbers).
At the end of the day, the debate remains open in the discussion tables. While “Chicharito” seeks to close his career enjoying the game in a developing league far from the pressure of Liga MX, the validity at the highest competitive level of legends like Messi and Luka Modric ends up placing them on another level of the football pedestal.
At the same time Cristiano Ronaldo defines his own destiny with Portugal. The press questions the current sporting level; The fans defend the legacy tooth and nail. Who is right?
