What Happened to Raúl Jiménez's Head Injury?

On November 29, 2020, during a Premier League fixture between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Arsenal, Mexican striker Raúl Jiménez suffered a horrific head injury following an accidental clash of heads with Arsenal defender David Luiz. The collision left Jiménez unconscious on the pitch, requiring immediate medical attention and oxygen before he was stretchered off and rushed to a London hospital. The diagnosis was a fractured skull and bleeding inside the brain, necessitating emergency surgery to relieve intracranial pressure and save his life. Doctors later described his survival and subsequent recovery as a 'miracle.'

The incident sparked widespread concern about concussion protocols in football, particularly after David Luiz was allowed to continue playing for Arsenal until halftime despite a visible head wound. Jiménez faced a long and arduous rehabilitation process, with medical professionals initially warning him that his career might be over. However, demonstrating immense resilience, he defied expectations, returning to training in February 2021 and making his first pre-season appearance in July 2021. His competitive return to the pitch came in August 2021, approximately nine months after the injury. Since then, Jiménez has worn a specially designed protective headband during all matches and training sessions to safeguard the vulnerable area of his skull and minimize the risk of re-injury.

Following his return, Jiménez continued to play for Wolves before moving to Fulham in July 2023. His time at Craven Cottage was marked by a resurgence in form, where he scored over 30 goals in three productive seasons. During the 2024/25 season, he achieved significant milestones, becoming the most prolific Mexican goal scorer in Premier League history, surpassing Javier 'Chicharito' Hernández, and establishing himself as the division's best-ever penalty taker with a 100% record from 14 spot-kicks.

As of June 2026, Raúl Jiménez, now 35, has made a notable career move by re-signing with his former club, Wolverhampton Wanderers, on June 9, 2026, on a two-year deal, despite their recent relegation to the Championship. This homecoming was sealed just days before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he was included in Mexico's national squad. On June 11, 2026, Jiménez scored his first-ever World Cup goal in Mexico's opening 2-0 victory against South Africa at the Estadio Azteca, an emotional moment for the striker, especially after the recent passing of his father in March 2026. He currently stands joint-second on Mexico's all-time scoring list with 46 international goals. His journey remains a powerful testament to perseverance and resilience in the face of a career-threatening injury.