Javier Hernández
Javier Hernández Balcázar (Spanish: [xaˈβjeɾ eɾˈnandes βalˈkasaɾ] ⓘ; born 1 June 1988), commonly known by the nickname Chicharito ([tʃitʃaˈɾito], Mexican Spanish: little pea), is a Mexican professional footballer who plays as a striker for Liga MX club Guadalajara. He is known for his clinical finishing along with his pace and technical ability and is widely considered to be amongst the greatest Mexican players of all time.
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Hernández playing for West Ham United in 2019 | |||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Javier Hernández Balcázar | ||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 1 June 1988 | ||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Guadalajara, Mexico | ||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||
Current team | Guadalajara | ||||||||||||||||
| Number | 14 | ||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||
| 1997–2005 | Guadalajara | ||||||||||||||||
| 2005–2006 | Chivas Coras Tepic | ||||||||||||||||
| 2006–2009 | Tapatío | ||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||
| 2006–2010 | Guadalajara | 64 | (26) | ||||||||||||||
| 2010–2015 | Manchester United | 103 | (37) | ||||||||||||||
| 2014–2015 | → Real Madrid (loan) | 23 | (7) | ||||||||||||||
| 2015–2017 | Bayer Leverkusen | 54 | (28) | ||||||||||||||
| 2017–2019 | West Ham United | 55 | (16) | ||||||||||||||
| 2019–2020 | Sevilla | 9 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
| 2020–2023 | LA Galaxy | 74 | (38) | ||||||||||||||
| 2024– | Guadalajara | 5 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||
| 2007 | Mexico U20 | 2 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
| 2009–2019 | Mexico | 109 | (52) | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
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*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 6 April 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 7 September 2019 | |||||||||||||||||
Hernández began his senior club career at age 18 in 2006, playing for Guadalajara, where he won the Primera División. In 2010, Hernández signed for Manchester United, becoming the club's first Mexican player. During his five years with United, he amassed over 150 appearances and scored 59 goals, winning two Premier League titles, the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year in first season and reached the 2011 UEFA Champions League Final, as well as setting the then record for the fifth-best minutes-per-goal ratio (130.2) in league history. Hernández departed the club on loan to Real Madrid in 2014, winning the FIFA Club World Cup, and in 2015 he joined Bayer Leverkusen on a permanent deal. Two years later, Hernández returned to England and signed for West Ham United. In 2019, he signed for Sevilla before joining LA Galaxy the following year. In 2024, Hernández rejoined his boyhood club Guadalajara.
A Mexican international, Hernández is the country's all-time leading goalscorer. He made his debut for the national team in September 2009 in a friendly match against Colombia. He has represented Mexico at the 2010, 2014, and 2018 FIFA World Cups, the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup, the 2013 and 2017 FIFA Confederations Cups, and the Copa América Centenario. He was the 2011 Gold Cup's top scorer with seven goals and was named the most valuable player of the tournament.