Fansided

10 players with the most to prove

By Harvey Cruz

20180327 - Brussels, Belgium / International Friendly Game : Belgium v Saudi Arabia / "nEden HAZARD"nPicture by Vincent Van Doornick / Isosport
20180327 - Brussels, Belgium / International Friendly Game : Belgium v Saudi Arabia / "nEden HAZARD"nPicture by Vincent Van Doornick / Isosport /
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PASADENA, CA – MAY 28: Javier Hernandez #14 of Mexico during the international friendly match between Mexico and Wales at the Rose Bowl on May 28, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Shaun Clark/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA – MAY 28: Javier Hernandez #14 of Mexico during the international friendly match between Mexico and Wales at the Rose Bowl on May 28, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Shaun Clark/Getty Images) /

8. Javier Hernandez

Javier Chicharito Hernandez is Mexico’s all-time record goalscorer with 49, and won the Gold Cup with El Tri in 2011, but an up-and-down club career that has seen him play for Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen and West Ham since leaving Manchester United leaves the impression he never quite lived up to his potential. Not unlike the Mexican team at the World Cup.

His last World Cup yielded one goal and a controversial exit in the round of 16. Mexico will hope to match that feat this time around, but were drawn in arguably the toughest group in the tournament with Sweden, South Korea and defending champions Germany. There will be little margin for error.

Hernandez will have to be at this best if Mexico want to advance. After a season in which he made only 19 starts in all competitions for West Ham, scoring eight goals, he’ll be desperate to show the world he’s still got it. His movement in the box is elite, and there are few better finishes in the 18-yard box, but he’ll need chances.

Chicharito has scored three World Cup goals, but in what is likely to be his last tournament for El Tri, he’ll be desperate to get over the round of 16 hump. Mexico haven’t reached the quarters since they hosted the tournament in 1986. If Hernandez helps get them back there it will go a long way to making up for his disappointment at club level.