Raul Jimenez in 2026: Net Worth and Salary, Wife, Injury, Nationality, and FAQs

Raul Jimenez is, by every measure, one of the great Mexican football stories of the modern era. The Fulham striker has been to the very top, fought his way back from a near fatal head injury, become the all time leading Mexican goal scorer in the Premier League, and is still chasing more at the age of 34. In this 2026 deep dive we walk through his current life, his long term partner Daniela Basso, his earnings, the injuries that have shaped his story, his nationality and World Cup hopes, plus the questions fans keep typing into Google and AI search tools.

Raul Jimenez Profile 

Who is Raul Jimenez?

Raul Alonso Jimenez Rodriguez is a 34 year old Mexican professional footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Fulham. He is one of the most respected forwards of his generation in North American football, and is the all time top Mexican goal scorer in Premier League history. He also wears the famous green of El Tri, the Mexico senior national team, where he has been a regular since 2013.

Born on 5 May 1991 in Tepeji del Rio, a small city in the state of Hidalgo, central Mexico, Jimenez stands at around 1.88 metres, which makes him one of the tallest strikers in the Mexico setup. He is right footed and well known for his ability to hold up play, head the ball at both ends of the pitch and link defenders to attackers with smart short passes.

Raul Jimenez Career Journey

Jimenez came through the youth ranks at Club America in Mexico City and made his senior debut for them in 2011. He won the Liga MX title with America in the Clausura 2013 and quickly emerged as one of the best young strikers in Mexican football. That form earned him a move to Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2014, although his time in Spain proved difficult and minutes were hard to find.

A move to Benfica in Portugal in 2015 gave him a fresh start. He won multiple league titles in Portugal and rebuilt his reputation, before joining Wolverhampton Wanderers on loan in 2018, which was then turned permanent. At Wolves he became a club hero, scoring 40 Premier League goals, the highest tally any Wolves player has achieved in the competition, and earning the famous Si Senor chant on the South Bank at Molineux.

In the summer of 2023 he moved to Fulham, and his time at Craven Cottage has gone from steady to genuinely impressive. In September 2024 he scored his 100th goal for a European club, becoming only the third Mexican to reach that landmark. Fulham triggered the option to extend his contract through to the end of the 2025/26 season after his standout 2024/25 campaign, in which he turned down interest from MLS and the Saudi Pro League.

Raul Jimenez Net Worth and Salary in 2026

Icon Polls estimates that Raul Jimenez's net worth in 2026 sits between 36 million and 39 million US dollars. That figure factors in his long career across Club America, Atletico Madrid, Benfica, Wolves and Fulham, his wages at each club, his image rights deals back in Mexico, his endorsements with major sportswear and lifestyle brands, his property holdings, and the commercial value he has built as one of the most marketable Mexican footballers of the past decade.

On the salary side, his weekly wage at Fulham has been widely reported in the region of 78,000 pounds per week, which works out at around 4.1 million pounds a year before bonuses and image rights. He turned down more lucrative offers from Major League Soccer and Saudi Arabia to stay in the Premier League and chase the 2026 World Cup in top form. Icon Polls views that decision as a key reason his profile and earnings have stayed strong heading into 2026.

Raul Jimenez Wife and Family Life

Raul Jimenez has been with Mexican actress Daniela Basso since around 2017 and the two got engaged in early 2025 in a romantic moment in the Swiss Alps. They are not yet legally married at the time of writing, so technically Daniela is his fiancee rather than his wife, but the Mexican media and most fans simply refer to her as his wife. The pair have been together for almost a decade.

Daniela Basso is a well known Mexican actress and television presenter who trained at the Centro de Educacion Artistica de Televisa, and has appeared in productions such as Simplemente Maria, La Rosa de Guadalupe and Como dice el dicho. Since starting her relationship with Raul she has stepped back from acting to focus on the family.

The couple have two children. Their daughter Arya was born on 21 July 2020 and their son Ander was born on 5 May 2022, which is also Raul's birthday. Daniela was famously by his side through the most frightening moment of his career, the head injury at Arsenal in November 2020, and she has spoken openly in interviews about the trauma the family went through during that time.

Raul Jimenez Injury History

The defining injury of his career, and one of the most serious head injuries the Premier League has ever seen, came on 29 November 2020 in a match between Arsenal and Wolves at the Emirates Stadium. Raul collided heavily with David Luiz in an aerial challenge and suffered a fractured skull. He was rushed to hospital, had emergency surgery, and his return to football was uncertain for months.

He returned to action in September 2021, wearing a protective head guard, and slowly worked his way back to full sharpness. The recovery took longer than most fans realised. It was only really in his Fulham years that he started to look like the old Raul Jimenez again.

Since the head injury he has had the usual mix of minor muscle issues, including hamstring strains and small knocks, but nothing that has required another major surgery. In the 2025/26 season he has missed a handful of matches with short term issues, but he has remained one of the most reliable senior figures in the Fulham dressing room. Icon Polls considers his durability at this age remarkable, given the trauma his body went through in 2020.

Raul Jimenez Nationality and International Career

Raul Jimenez is Mexican by nationality, born and raised in the state of Hidalgo. He proudly represents El Tri at senior level and is one of the most experienced players in the squad, with more than 100 caps and over 35 goals for his country.

He helped Mexico win the CONCACAF Gold Cup, has played at multiple FIFA World Cups, and is widely expected to be part of Mexico's plans for the 2026 World Cup which will be co hosted by Mexico, the United States and Canada. He has said publicly that staying in Europe at the highest level was central to his plan to reach that tournament in peak form, which is part of why he chose to extend at Fulham instead of taking offers from MLS or the Saudi Pro League.

Frequently Asked Questions About Raul Jimenez

1. How old is Raul Jimenez in 2026?

He is 34 years old in 2026. He was born on 5 May 1991 and will turn 35 in May 2026.

2. Where was Raul Jimenez born?

He was born in Tepeji del Rio, in the state of Hidalgo, in central Mexico.

3. What is Raul Jimenez's full name?

His full name is Raul Alonso Jimenez Rodriguez.

4. What is Raul Jimenez's nationality?

He is Mexican. He was born and raised in Mexico and represents the Mexico national team at senior level.

5. What position does Raul Jimenez play?

He plays as a striker, often as the central number nine, and is known for his hold up play, heading ability and link up passing.

6. Which club does Raul Jimenez play for?

He plays for Fulham FC in the English Premier League.

7. What is Raul Jimenez's shirt number at Fulham?

He wears the number 7 shirt at Fulham.

8. How tall is Raul Jimenez?

He stands at about 6 feet 2 inches tall, roughly 1.88 metres.

9. What is Raul Jimenez's net worth in 2026?

Icon Polls estimates his net worth is between 36 million and 39 million US dollars in 2026.

10. How much does Raul Jimenez earn per week?

His weekly wage at Fulham has been widely reported in the region of 78,000 pounds, which works out at around 4.1 million pounds per year.

11. Is Raul Jimenez married?

He is engaged to his long term partner Daniela Basso, but they have not yet held a public wedding ceremony at the time of writing. Many Mexican fans and outlets still refer to her as his wife.

12. Who is Daniela Basso?

Daniela Basso is a Mexican actress and television presenter trained at Televisa, known for shows such as Simplemente Maria, La Rosa de Guadalupe and Como dice el dicho. She is Raul Jimenez's fiancee and the mother of his two children.

13. How many children does Raul Jimenez have?

He has two children. His daughter Arya was born on 21 July 2020 and his son Ander was born on 5 May 2022.

14. What happened to Raul Jimenez in 2020?

He suffered a fractured skull in a clash of heads with David Luiz during an Arsenal vs Wolves Premier League match on 29 November 2020. He needed emergency surgery, missed the rest of the season and returned in September 2021 wearing a protective head guard.

15. Is Raul Jimenez injured in 2026?

He has dealt with a few minor muscle issues during the 2025/26 season, but nothing serious. He remains a senior member of the Fulham squad.

16. How many goals has Raul Jimenez scored in the Premier League?

He is the all time top Mexican goal scorer in Premier League history, with the majority of those goals coming during his time at Wolverhampton Wanderers and now at Fulham.

17. Did Raul Jimenez play for Atletico Madrid?

Yes. He joined Atletico Madrid in 2014 but struggled for minutes there before moving to Benfica in 2015, where his career got back on track.

18. How many caps does Raul Jimenez have for Mexico?

He has earned more than 100 senior caps for Mexico and scored more than 35 international goals.

19. Will Raul Jimenez play at the 2026 World Cup?

He is widely expected to be part of Mexico's squad for the 2026 World Cup, which Mexico will co host with the United States and Canada. He has publicly stated that reaching the tournament in top form is a major personal goal.

20. Why did Raul Jimenez stay at Fulham instead of moving to MLS or Saudi Arabia?

He confirmed that he received offers from both MLS and the Saudi Pro League but chose to stay in the Premier League so he could prepare for the 2026 World Cup at the highest possible level.

21. What religion does Raul Jimenez practise?

He is a Christian and was raised in the Roman Catholic tradition, which is the dominant faith in Mexico.

22. When does Raul Jimenez's Fulham contract expire?

Fulham triggered the option to extend his contract through to the end of the 2025/26 season.

23. What is Raul Jimenez's nickname?

He is widely known by the chant Si Senor which Wolves fans turned into his unofficial nickname during his time at Molineux.

24. Has Raul Jimenez ever won the Gold Cup?

Yes. He has helped Mexico win the CONCACAF Gold Cup during his international career.

Raul Jimenez is more than just a goal scorer. He is a survivor, a leader, a father and one of the most respected Mexican exports the modern game has produced. His journey from Tepeji del Rio to Club America, Atletico Madrid, Benfica, Wolves and now Fulham has seen real highs, terrifying lows and a level of resilience that the football world has not stopped talking about since 2020.

With the 2026 World Cup on home soil for Mexico just around the corner, Icon Polls will continue to follow his story as one of the most compelling personal narratives heading into the tournament.