Where is Chicharito? Why Javier Hernandez isn’t on Mexico’s World Cup roster

The Mexican national team will get the 2026 FIFA World Cup underway with the opening match on Thursday evening.

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Mexico will do it without one of its most well-known players of recent vintage, Javier Hernandez — the man known as Chicharito, «little pea.»

Hernandez is an all-time great for El Tri who rose as high in the club game as the heights of Manchester United.

He scored 52 goals in 109 caps for the Mexican national team, and he also spent time in his long career in Liga MX, MLS, the German Bundesliga and La Liga.

It would’ve been special if Chicharito could’ve played at this World Cup back at home for Mexico, but he isn’t on the team.

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Where is Chicharito?

Javier Hernandez is technically not retired. Instead, he’s a free agent without a club.

He last played club football in 2024 and 2025 with Guadalajara in Mexico.

He hasn’t played for the Mexican national team since 2019. He wasn’t a part of the 2022 World Cup squad.

Why isn’t Javier Hernandez playing in the 2026 World Cup?

Hernandez has now essentially aged out of the Mexican plans.

He could still be called up, but given that he hasn’t been a part of the operation in seven years, that won’t be happening.

Chicharito turned 38 on June 1, and he hasn’t even been playing club football, so there’s no way to know what kind of form he may have been.

Mexico has a solid strike force, led by Raul Jimenez, and Hernandez will just have to watch and root on his compatriots.

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