🇲🇽 Gold Cup Daily: Santi keeping the faith as he approaches unwanted anniversary
The forward scored the winning goal in the last Gold Cup final. He hasn't scored in another official match since.
Reporting from Houston
It was, finally, Santi Gimenez’s breakout moment.
Already a rising star at Feyenoord, the young forward was yet to truly enjoy a major goal for Mexico.
But as the 2023 Gold Cup final ticked toward extra time, Gimenez entered the match in the 85th minute. Four minutes later, he was holding off a Panama center back, running in on goal and finishing to set off celebrations as Mexico won the tournament.
The goal came, and it felt like it was the first of many for the prospect. Except … it wasn’t. Gimenez’s goal in last month’s pre-Gold Cup friendly against Switzerland is the only goal he’s scored with the national team since.
While there are few opportunities for Mexico and other host nations to play official matches between continental championships, it means that the two-year anniversary of his last goal in an official match.
He would prefer not to reach another year - and he definitely wouldn’t celebrate reaching the two-year anniversary, one that would extend another 11 months with El Tri’s next official game coming in its World Cup opener.
Trying to balance the joy of growing in his club career with the consistent frustration of failing to score in each trip across the Atlantic Ocean to suit up for El Tri, Gimenez has leaned on his faith.
“I think what keeps me calm and gives me hope is God, I’m in his plan and know I’m working hard, working to keep growing,” said Gimenez, who became committed to Christianity after deep-vein thrombosis in his shoulder nearly ended his career when he was a teenager. “We’re winning. That gives me a lot of peace as well because it’s the most important thing. We’re the last Gold Cup champions, the Nations League champions. Today, we’re fighting for a back-to-back title. That also gives you more calmness.”
“But obviously, personally, as a forward I want to score goals, too. That’s logical, right,” he continued.