Mexico's Raúl Jiménez Leads El Tri to First CONCACAF Nations League Trophy
In a thrilling finale to the 2025 CONCACAF Nations League, Raúl Jiménez emerged as the hero for Mexico, scoring twice to secure a 2-1 victory over Panama and lift El Tri's first Nations League trophy since the tournament's inception.
The Fulham striker was instrumental throughout the final stages of the competition, netting four goals in the last two matches to claim the tournament's top scorer award, surpassing USA's Christian Pulisic who had scored three.
"Mission accomplished," Jiménez declared after Sunday's match. "These matches are tough, but we played the way we needed to after they tied the game, and we're happy with the victory. The team's work was solid - when we had to defend, we did, and when we had to attack, we did."
The forward, nicknamed the "Lobo de Tepejí," put Mexico ahead early in the eighth minute of the first half. However, Panama's Adalberto Carrasquilla managed to equalize just before halftime, setting up a tense second period. The decisive moment came in stoppage time when Panama's José Córdoba committed a costly handball inside the box. Jiménez stepped up to convert the penalty in the 92nd minute, breaking the deadlock and securing Mexico's historic triumph.
With his brace in the final, Jiménez has now scored 39 goals for the national team, surpassing Mexican legend Cuauhtémoc Blanco to become the third-highest scorer in El Tri's history. He now sits just 13 goals away from overtaking Javier 'Chicharito' Hernández as Mexico's all-time leading scorer.
"I'm excited about what the national team is doing. Fortunately, we got rid of that thorn by finally winning this championship," Jiménez reflected. "I had played in the preliminary rounds but had never played in the Final Four, and what better way to do it than by winning it on my first try. This is just the beginning - I still have a lot to give to the national team, and I will give my best effort."
The victory marks an important milestone for Mexico under the guidance of Javier Aguirre, as the team continues to build momentum and confidence. Jiménez credited the shared vision between the players and their coach, known as "Vasco," saying, "We changed our mindset; the same desire that both we and 'Vasco' have to represent Mexico at home is what drives us. We share the same motivation."
This Nations League title adds to Mexico's impressive collection of international trophies, becoming their 17th official title. El Tri's cabinet now includes 12 Gold Cup titles, two NAFC titles, one Nations League title, one Confederations Cup, and one CONCACAF Cup.
With their sights set on the 2026 World Cup, where Mexico will be one of the host nations, the team is focused on maintaining their winning form. Their preparation continues with confirmed matches against Switzerland and Turkey during the June FIFA dates, followed by their campaign in the 2025 Gold Cup.
As Jiménez concluded his post-match comments: "If things go well, great. Thank you all for the support." For Mexico and their fans, things are certainly looking promising as they build toward their home World Cup.
