Jimenez honours ´great friend´ Jota after goal in Gold Cup final

Raul Jimenez paid an emotional tribute to former team-mate Diogo Jota after scoring in Mexico’s Gold Cup final victory over the United States.

Jimenez equalised in the 27th minute of Sunday’s final at the NRG Stadium, after Chris Richards had put the USA ahead with a fourth-minute header.

He then laid out a Mexico shirt adorned with Jota’s name and the number 20, which the forward wore for Liverpool, and replicated his trademark gaming celebration.

Jota, along with his brother Andre Silva, died in a car crash in Spain last Thursday.

Jimenez also wore a shirt bearing Jota’s name during the national anthems ahead of Sunday’s final.

Jimenez and Jota were strike partners at Wolves between 2018 and 2020, helping Nuno Espirito Santo’s team secure successive seventh-place finishes in the Premier League.

West Ham’s Edson Alvarez scored Mexico’s winner with a diving header 13 minutes from time.

“He was a great friend, a great team-mate, this goal goes to him,” Jimenez said of Jota. “I know that from up there, he will be very proud of this goal.”

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Jimenez also played a key role when Mexico last beat the USA in a Gold Cup final in 2019, and he believes their 10th triumph in the competition will provide a major confidence boost ahead of a home World Cup next year.

“We started off slow but kept improving; it’s an extra boost as we wrap up the summer before the World Cup,” the Fulham striker said.

“Winning, lifting this trophy, that could be something very positive heading into the upcoming friendly matches and the World Cup. We had this in mind, and we’re very happy.”

Coach Javier Aguirre, who also led El Tri to the CONCACAF Nations League title earlier this year, echoed those sentiments as he said: “One, we’re champions. That’s what we came for. We were the favourites and we fulfilled the mission.

“Two, it’s about the connection with the fans. I see people fully engaged, both in the United States and in Mexico. Three, I think we’re starting to see the results of our training.

“In these two tournaments, we lifted two trophies. That motivates us to keep training, gives meaning to our words and gives us confidence for the future.”