What Happened to Santiago Tomás Giménez Zolotarchuk?

Santiago Giménez, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on April 18, 2001, began his professional career with Liga MX club Cruz Azul, where he spent four seasons. He made his senior debut in 2017 and was a key part of the team that won the Liga MX title in May 2021, ending the club's 23-year drought. He also secured other domestic trophies with Cruz Azul, establishing himself as a promising young striker in Mexican football.

In July 2022, Giménez made a significant move to European football, joining Dutch Eredivisie club Feyenoord on a four-year contract. His time in the Netherlands was highly successful, quickly becoming a fan favorite and a prolific goalscorer. In his debut season (2022/23), he scored 15 goals in 32 matches, helping Feyenoord win the Eredivisie title. He continued his impressive form into the 2023/24 season, increasing his league goal tally to 23 and making his UEFA Champions League debut. He also won the KNVB Cup and the Johan Cruyff Shield with Feyenoord. In September 2024, he suffered a thigh injury that sidelined him for three months, a significant blow during his final months with the Dutch club.

On February 3, 2025, Giménez completed a high-profile transfer to Serie A giants AC Milan for a reported fee of €32-37 million. He quickly made an impact, providing an assist on his debut in the Coppa Italia and scoring his first Serie A goal just two days later. He also scored his first Champions League goal for Milan against his former club Feyenoord. However, the 2025/26 season proved to be a challenging one for Giménez. Plagued by recurrent injuries, he made only 16 Serie A appearances and, notably, failed to score a single league goal, though he registered two assists. This period of underperformance led to widespread speculation about his future at San Siro.

Internationally, Giménez has been a consistent presence for the Mexico national team since his senior debut in October 2021. He played a crucial role in Mexico's success, scoring the winning goal in the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup final and winning the tournament again in 2025. He also won the 2025 CONCACAF Nations League and was a runner-up in the 2024 edition. As of June 2026, he is part of Mexico's squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted on home soil. Despite his inclusion, he has seen limited minutes in the opening matches, with coach Javier Aguirre preferring other options due to Giménez's difficult club season and injury concerns.

As of June 25, 2026, Santiago Giménez's future at AC Milan remains uncertain. While new manager Ruben Amorim is reportedly considering giving him a second chance to revive his career, there are also strong transfer rumors. MLS club Orlando City has reportedly made a significant offer of approximately $30 million (€26 million) with a lucrative contract, aiming to make him a franchise player alongside Antoine Griezmann. Other clubs like Tottenham, Lazio, and Sunderland have also been linked. Giménez is currently focused on the World Cup, hoping to regain his form and prove his capabilities on the international stage.