Santiago Giménez registration controversy cleared up | OneFootball

Santiago Giménez registration controversy cleared up | OneFootball

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·3 September 2026

Santiago Giménez registration controversy cleared up

Article image:Santiago Giménez registration controversy cleared up

Santiago Giménez’s registration by FC Porto sparked some controversy on social media after the forward initially appeared listed with Italian nationality in Liga Portugal’s records. However, that indication was not the result of any mistake.

Although he represents Mexico internationally, Giménez also holds Italian citizenship, inherited through his family, and was born in Argentina. His dual nationality, Mexican and Italian, is also noted in public player databases.


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It was through his Italian passport that FC Porto was able to register the forward as a citizen of the European Union. As a result, the player was not subject to the usual procedures applied to non-EU athletes.

The doubt arose because, at an initial stage, Liga Portugal’s official website showed the Italian flag next to the Porto signing’s name, even though Giménez is a Mexico international.

The reason, however, has to do with administrative matters: for registration purposes, his Italian nationality was considered. Later, Liga Portugal corrected the public information and began displaying the Mexican flag, corresponding to the national team the player represents.

With more than 50 caps for Mexico, Santiago Giménez is one of the national team’s main figures, despite having been born in Buenos Aires and also holding Italian citizenship.

What was interpreted on social media as a possible error in the registration of FC Porto’s new forward was, in fact, due to the distinction between the nationality used in the administrative process and the national team for which the player plays.

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

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