Santiago Gimenez joins FC Porto on loan from AC Milan | OneFootball

Santiago Gimenez is FC Porto’s latest signing, joining the Club from AC Milan on loan, with an option to buy. Before moving to Italy, the Mexican striker, capped 51 times by his country, scored 65 goals, provided 14 assists and won three trophies while playing for Feyenoord.

The Dragons’ new number 29 is the son of a former Mexico international and was born on April 18, 2001, in Buenos Aires, the Argentine capital, while his father was playing for Boca Juniors. In 2004, Christian Gimenez returned to his home country and “El Bebote” – the big baby – followed his father through spells at Veracruz, Club América, Pachuca and Cruz Azul.

It was at Cruz Azul that Santiago Gimenez began playing football, at the age of nine. His debut for the first team came in a friendly against Pumas, in a moment the family will never forget: at just 15 years old and wearing number 349 on his back, he played alongside his father and handed him the ball after winning his first penalty as a professional.

His first official appearance came in a Copa MX tie in August 2017. The following year, he won that competition as well as the Super Cup. In 2019, he made his debut in the Mexican League and, in 2021, helped Cruz Azul become national champions, ending a 23-year drought. Along the way, he was named Player of the Month twice.

After adding two more Campeón de Campeones titles to his honours list, Santiago Gimenez moved to the Netherlands, where he signed for Feyenoord. In his first season in Europe, the left-footed centre-forward scored 23 goals in all competitions, was one of the Europa League’s top scorers and celebrated winning the Dutch league title.

In the first 17 matchdays of 2023/24, the Mexican recorded 19 goals and four assists, becoming one of the great idols in the stands at De Kuip. He was once again named Player of the Month, set the record for most goals scored in a calendar year in the Eredivisie, with 31, surpassing Luis Suárez, and played a decisive role in winning the Dutch Cup.

In the first game of 2024/25, against champions PSV Eindhoven, Santiago Gimenez scored twice and provided an assist, helping Feyenoord win the Super Cup. In January, he surpassed Hirving Lozano’s tally to become the Mexican with the most goals in the history of Dutch football.

The following month, he moved to AC Milan. For the Italian club, he broke the record for most goals by a Mexican player in a single edition of the Champions League, a mark previously shared by Hugo Sánchez and Javier Hernández with five, and reached the Coppa Italia final.

For the Mexico national team, with whom he made his debut in 2021, the Dragons’ newest arrival won two editions of the Gold Cup, in 2023 and 2025, and a CONCACAF Nations League title in 2024/25. He also took part in the most recent Copa América and the 2026 World Cup.

Now, Santiago Gimenez will look to follow the example of Miguel Layún, Héctor Herrera and Jesús Corona, three compatriots who left their mark in the Invicta, as well as that of idol Maniche. Wearing the FC Porto shirt, the former midfielder won the Intercontinental Cup, the Champions League, the UEFA Cup, two national league titles, one Portuguese Cup and two Super Cups.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.