Fourteen years after leaving Europe and Manchester United, Javier 'Chicharito' Hernández made a triumphant return to his boyhood club, Chivas, in Liga MX. Hernández, who recently rejoined Chivas after his contract with the LA Galaxy expired, made his second debut against Pumas UNAM as a substitute, receiving a warm welcome from the fans at Estadio Akron.
Having recovered from a torn ACL injury that ended his time with the Galaxy, the 35-year-old striker showcased his skills once again on the field. During his stint in MLS, Hernández scored 39 goals in 82 appearances and was selected for the All-Star game in 2022.
Prior to his MLS tenure, Hernández had a successful career in Europe, playing for clubs like Manchester United, Real Madrid, Sevilla, West Ham United, and Bayer Leverkusen. He won two Premier League titles during his time with Manchester United, where he initially rose to prominence.
Starting his professional journey with Chivas in 2006, Hernández has always maintained a strong connection with the Mexican club. As the all-time leading goal scorer for Mexico's national team, he has netted 52 goals in 109 appearances, showcasing his scoring prowess on the international stage.
Despite Hernández's late appearance in the match against Pumas UNAM, Chivas had already secured a 3-1 victory with goals from Cade Cowell, Antonio Briseño, and Víctor Guzmán. The win propelled Chivas to seventh place in the Clausura standings after nine rounds of the season.