Player profile

The Argentina-born forward will be playing in his second World Cup after appearing in three games in 2006.

Picked up by West Ham on a free transfer in September, Franco adapted quickly to life in the Premier League and was one of the few bright spots in the Hammers’ season, hitting five goals in 16 starts to help the club stave off relegation. However, he recently confirmed that West Ham have released him. He is likely to play off Javier Hernandez in Mexico’s attack.

Franco obtained Mexican nationality in 2005 after three years at Monterrey and scored on his international debut against Guatemala. He started his club career at Buenos Aires-based San Lorenzo in 1996 and headed to the Mexican league in 2002.

Four seasons at Monterrey reaped 63 goals in 119 league games and earned a transfer to La Liga with Villarreal. Franco struggled in Spain and after 14 league goals in 81 appearances over three-and-a-half injury-interrupted years, he signed for West Ham, becoming the first Mexican to play for the club.

Franco says his life has been “a miracle”, having twice cheated death. He could have died inside his mother’s womb but for an emergency Caesarean when doctors discovered the umbilical cord was strangling him.

He was also electrocuted “for several minutes” aged 11 when he opened his grandmother’s fridge while soaking wet; his grandmother was also electrocuted as she pulled him away and Franco claims doctors told him they both should have died.