Play next to Lionel Messi It became a wish for many footballers and a reality for a privileged few. Santiago GimenezFor example, he could have had the chance to join that select group that shared a team with the best player in the world. However, his firm stance of defending the colors of Mexico over the Argentine National Team made this possibility take another direction.
The Feyenoord goalscorer was born in Argentina, so he could have chosen to represent his country. However, he decided to play for Mexico, where he moved at the age of 2 when his father, former Boca player Christian Giménez, started playing in Veracruz.
“I’m not lying, I love Messi, he’s an animal, he’s the best in history, but better to play against him“, confirmed the 22-year-old forward to journalist Christian Martin.
Furthermore, he added: “I love Leo Messi, I think he is the best player in history, but I was not going to make the decision – to play for the Argentine National Team – for Messi, I was going to make it with my heart… I am happy with the decision.”
“My family made me doubt that I would look for him in Argentina, but my heart was not there and today I am happy with the decision I made and what I can dream of with the Mexican team,” Giménez concluded. Of course, the Feyenoord player’s decision has purely and exclusively to do with the feeling he has towards Mexico, since it was the country where he grew up.
Who is Santiago Giménez?
Santiago Tomás Giménez was born on April 18, 2001 in Argentina. In mid-2004, Chaco was sold to the Mexican Veracruz and the family settled in Aztec lands.
Chaco, who won two Libertadores and an Intercontinental with Boca, settled permanently in Mexico until his retirement in 2017, playing for Cruz Azul.
Santiago grew up in Mexico, where the family put down roots and even saw the birth of his sisters, Agustina and Sofía. He started in the club where his father finished his career, Cruz Azul: 104 games and 21 goals that helped him make the leap to Europe.
Feyenoord of the Netherlands Eredivisie was his next stop. He scored 23 goals in his first season in which he was chosen MVP and he has already scored 18 so far in the second.
With the Mexican National Team he has already played 21 games. At 22 years old, Chaquito already knows what it means to become champion with his national team. In mid-2023, he won the Concacaf Gold Cup with Mexico.