Santiago Giménez

Santiago Giménez is named in Mexico's provisional squad for the 2026 World Cup, a centre-forward in the co-hosts' attack under Javier Aguirre. Mexico have yet to confirm their final 26, due on 1 June 2026, so his place is still to be settled. The AC Milan striker is 25 at kick-off and brings 46 senior Mexico caps and six international goals into the group as one of the co-hosts' current forward options.

Mexico open Group A at home to South Africa at the Estadio Azteca on 11 June, with South Korea and the Czech Republic to follow. Aguirre's possession-based side qualified automatically as tournament hosts, and Giménez is listed among the forwards in that provisional group, where Edson Álvarez is the captain.

Giménez is a centre-forward who leads the line, runs the channels and looks to finish inside the box. In Aguirre's possession-first Mexico side, he gives the attack a penalty-area reference point at the top of the pitch. Because Mexico's final 26 is still pending, his role is still a current forward option rather than a locked starting place.

For Mexico he has six international goals from 46 caps, and he plays his club football for AC Milan. At 25, he heads into a home World Cup window in the heart of his career.

Giménez offers the most direct Goal Rush return a forward can give, goals, with six already for Mexico from 46 caps. Mexico come in at £17m and Tier 3, towards the cheaper end of the game's £200m card budget. He is one of the strikers Aguirre can choose to lead the line through Group A, and a forward's finishing is what pays off a slot at this price on the days he leads the line.