{"id":963492,"date":"2026-07-28T00:07:15","date_gmt":"2026-07-28T00:07:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/963492\/"},"modified":"2026-07-28T00:07:15","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T00:07:15","slug":"10-things-to-know-about-atletico-dallas-javier-chicharito-hernandez","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/963492\/","title":{"rendered":"10 things to know about Atl\u00e9tico Dallas’ Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hern\u00e1ndez"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Forward<\/p>\n

Forward Javier “Chicharito” Hern\u00e1ndez poses for a photo at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.<\/p>\n

Courtesy: Atl\u00e9tico\u00a0Dallas<\/p>\n

Atl\u00e9tico Dallas<\/a> is already making a splash before it begins competing in 2027.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The club announced that it was signing historic Mexican striker Javier “Chicharito” Hern\u00e1ndez to a two-year contract<\/a>. The deal includes a club option for a third season. Hern\u00e1ndez became well-known throughout his professional career for his goal-scoring ability, suiting up for clubs in Mexico, England, Spain, Germany and the United States.<\/p>\n

Here’s what you should know about Hern\u00e1ndez:<\/p>\n

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1. The basics<\/p>\n

Full name:<\/strong> Javier Hern\u00e1ndez Balc\u00e1zar<\/p>\n

Birthday:<\/strong> June 1, 1988 (38 years old)<\/p>\n

Hometown:<\/strong> Guadalajara, Mexico<\/p>\n

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2. What does “Chicharito” mean?<\/p>\n

Hern\u00e1ndez is mostly known by his nickname, “Chicharito.” What exactly does the phrase mean? Chicharo is the Spanish term for pea, meaning Hern\u00e1ndez’s nickname is the “little pea.”<\/a><\/p>\n

Hern\u00e1ndez earned the nickname because of his soccer-playing father, Javier Hern\u00e1ndez Guti\u00e9rrez.\u00a0Hern\u00e1ndez Guti\u00e9rrez was known as “Chicharo,” thanks to his green eyes.<\/p>\n

3. He comes from a family of soccer standouts<\/p>\n

As we mentioned above, Hern\u00e1ndez isn’t the only soccer player in his family. His father, Javier Hern\u00e1ndez Guti\u00e9rrez, was a midfielder who played professionally throughout the 1980s and 1990s.<\/p>\n

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Hern\u00e1ndez Guti\u00e9rrez had\u00a0stints with Mexican clubs Tecos UAG, Puebla and Morelia before retiring in 1999. He also appeared in 28 matches for the Mexican national team from 1983-94, helping El Tri reach the FIFA World Cup quarterfinals in 1986.<\/p>\n

Chicharito’s maternal grandfather also played at the professional level. Tom\u00e1s Balc\u00e1zar was a forward in the 1940s and 1950s. Balc\u00e1zar played for Mexico’s Chivas de Guadalajara from 1948-58, and he also represented the Mexican national team in the ’50s. He suited up for El Tri at the 1954 FIFA World Cup.<\/p>\n

\"Manchester<\/p>\n

Manchester United’s Javier Hernandez celebrates after scoring against Norwich during their English League Cup soccer match at Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester, England, Tuesday Oct. 29 , 2013. (AP Photo\/Jon Super)<\/p>\n

Jon Super\/AP<\/p>\n

4. Spent a big portion of his career in Europe<\/p>\n

Hern\u00e1ndez first captured the attention of big-time scouts as a young striker for Mexico’s Chivas de Guadalajara. He became a household name when he moved to English giant Manchester United in 2010. The forward played a key part in Manchester United’s success from 2010-15, appearing in 103 matches for the club. He scored 37 goals before his stint in Manchester ended.<\/p>\n

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As his time with United wound down, Hern\u00e1ndez\u00a0was sent to Real Madrid on loan during the 2014-15 season. He teamed up with Cristiano Ronaldo in Madrid, scoring seven goals for the Spanish club.<\/p>\n

The forward found consistency when he left United for Germany’s Bayer Leverkusen in 2015. He played two seasons for the German club, recording 28 goals and four assists.<\/p>\n

Hern\u00e1ndez returned to England in 2017, spending three seasons with West Ham United. He scored 16 goals for the Premier League squad before joining Spain’s Sevilla in 2019. Sevilla was his last European stop, as he moved to Los Angeles in 2020.<\/p>\n

5. He’s Mexico’s all-time leading scorer<\/p>\n

Hern\u00e1ndez is Mexico’s all-time leading goalscorer, posting 52 goals with the national team. He’s followed closely on the list by Ra\u00fal Jim\u00e9nez, who scored three goals for El Tri at the 2026 World Cup.<\/p>\n

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Hern\u00e1ndez appeared in three World Cups for El Tri, playing in the 2010, 2014 and 2018 tournaments.<\/p>\n

Here’s a look at Mexico’s top five all-time leading goalscorers:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Javier “Chicharito” Hern\u00e1ndez: 52 goals<\/li>\n
  2. \u00a0Ra\u00fal Jim\u00e9nez: 48 goals<\/li>\n
  3. \u00a0Jared Borgetti: 46 goals<\/li>\n
  4. Cuauht\u00e9moc Blanco: 38 goals<\/li>\n
  5. \u00a0Luis Hern\u00e1ndez: 35 goals<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \"LA<\/p>\n

    LA Galaxy forward Javier Hernandez reacts to fans after the Galaxy defeated Nashville SC in an MLS playoff soccer match, in Carson, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022. (AP Photo\/Alex Gallardo)<\/p>\n

    Alex Gallardo\/AP<\/p>\n

    6. This won’t be his first time playing for a U.S. club<\/p>\n

    Hern\u00e1ndez has suited up for a club in the U.S. before. When his time at Sevilla ended, the forward signed with the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2020. He spent four seasons with the MLS squad, posting 38 goals and five assists.<\/p>\n

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    He earned several accolades with the Galaxy, being named the team’s player of the year in 2021 and 2022. He was also an MLS All-Star in 2022.<\/p>\n

    7. Where did he play last?<\/p>\n

    Hern\u00e1ndez returned to Mexico’s Chivas de Guadalajara in 2024 after his stint in LA ended. He was a veteran presence for a young Guadalajara team that was looking to return to prominence in Liga MX.<\/p>\n

    The forward appeared in 35 matches for Guadalajara from 2024-25, scoring three goals.<\/p>\n

    8. What else has he been doing recently?<\/p>\n

    When Hern\u00e1ndez hasn’t been playing, he’s been talking about the game. In the summer of 2026, he served as an analyst for Fox Soccer’s World Cup coverage. He teamed up with English icon Peter Crouch,\u00a0former Denmark goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, USMNT legend Clint Dempsey and others\u00a0to provide his thoughts on the tournament’s action.<\/p>\n

    \"Mexico<\/p>\n

    Mexico forward Javier Hernandez (14) scores on a penalty kick against Brazil during the first half of their soccer game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Sunday, June 3, 2012. Mexico won the game 2-0. (Michael Ainsworth\/ The Dallas Morning News)<\/p>\n

    Michael Ainsworth\/Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n

    9. He has scored goals in the Dallas area before<\/p>\n

    When Hern\u00e1ndez finds the back of the net for Atl\u00e9tico Dallas, that won’t mark his first goal in North Texas. He scored for El Tri in previous trips to AT&T Stadium in Arlington.<\/p>\n

    In 2011, he scored a hat trick in a 5-0 group-stage win over El Salvador in the Concacaf Gold Cup. A year later, he successfully converted a penalty in a 2-0 friendly win over Brazil.<\/p>\n

    The last time Hern\u00e1ndez scored at AT&T Stadium was in 2015 in a 2-2 draw with Argentina.<\/p>\n

    10. He’ll be coached by a familiar name to FC Dallas fans<\/p>\n

    Hern\u00e1ndez will be coached at Atl\u00e9tico Dallas by Peter Luccin<\/a>. Luccin is a familiar name to FC Dallas fans, as he served as the team’s interim head coach in 2024.<\/p>\n

    Luccin shared his thoughts on coaching Hern\u00e1ndez in a statement:<\/p>\n

    “Players earn respect through the standards they set every day,” Luccin said. “Javier has competed against the very best players in the world and understands exactly what excellence requires. His experience, professionalism, and competitive mentality will elevate everyone around him. That’s the kind of foundation every successful club needs.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Forward Javier “Chicharito” Hern\u00e1ndez poses for a photo at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. Courtesy: Atl\u00e9tico\u00a0Dallas Atl\u00e9tico Dallas…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":963493,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[5135],"tags":[5229,1596,15519,358,10928,357140,3187,67,586,132,5230,68,2969],"class_list":["post-963492","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-dallas","tag-america","tag-dallas","tag-fc-dallas","tag-texas","tag-things-to-know","tag-tp-cotton-bowl","tag-tx","tag-united-states","tag-united-states-of-america","tag-unitedstates","tag-unitedstatesofamerica","tag-us","tag-usa"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/116994694431018865","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/963492","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=963492"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/963492\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/963493"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=963492"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=963492"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=963492"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}