Player profile

Hernandez is a phenomenon who has been in prolific form since bursting onto the scene less than a year ago. Manchester United’s new signing is already being billed as potentially Mexico’s best striker since Real Madrid great Hugo Sanchez.

A penalty-box predator, ‘Chicharito’ only made his international debut in September but didn’t feature at all in qualifying. He hit four goals in his first four appearances and goes into the tournament in good form following strikers against the Netherlands and Gambia, when he got a double, in the pre-tournament friendlies.

Hernandez made his professional debut for Chivas back in 2006 but initially saw his opportunities limited and it wasn’t until the 2009/10 Apertura (opening) season that he exploded into life, hitting 11 goals in 17 appearances. He continued that form into the Clasura campaign with 10 goals in 11 games.

Manchester United moved quickly to snap the striker up in April for a fee believed to be between £6m and £8m. Sir Alex Ferguson reportedly insisted on total secrecy around the deal for fear of the transfer being hijacked by a big Spanish club and Hernandez’s agent and girlfriend were kept in the dark until the contract was signed.

The 21-year-old is the third generation of his family to travel to a World Cup. His father, also called Javier, was a non-playing member of the 1986 squad that also featured El Tri boss Javier Aguirre.

Javier Hernandez senior was known as ‘Chicharo’ (the pea), hence Javier junior’s nickname ‘Chicharito’ (little pea). His grandfather, Tomas Balcazar, played at the 1954 World Cup. Hernandez speaks good English and is studying for a degree in business administration in his spare time.