Raúl Jiménez will undergo knee surgery and is expected to miss the rest of the year, ruling him out of Mexico’s Concacaf Nations League quarter‑finals against Jamaica. Wolves confirmed the decision on Wednesday after the 35‑year‑old sustained a left medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury in a match against Everton on September 16.
The club’s performance director explained that the ligament, which had been treated as a low‑grade injury, has not healed as hoped despite regular scans over the past three weeks. “We have consulted several knee specialists and decided that surgery is the best way to control the recovery timeline and have a clear idea of when he will return,” the statement read. Jiménez is scheduled for the operation on Friday, with a three‑month rehabilitation period expected before he can return to training.
Jiménez’s absence has already had a ripple effect on both sides of his career. He has not been available for the Mexican national team’s fall international break, and his injury has forced the squad to operate without their World Cup‑starting striker. Mexico’s new manager, former defender Rafael Márquez, saw the team go winless during the September‑October window, the first set of games under his stewardship.
At Wolves, the loss of Jiménez will be felt in the Championship campaign as well. The striker has been a key figure for the club, and his extended lay‑off will require adjustments to the attacking lineup. The club’s medical staff and coaching team are working closely with the player to ensure a full recovery and a return to fitness ahead of the new year.
With the surgery set for Friday and a projected rehabilitation of three months, Jiménez is unlikely to feature for Mexico in the November Nations League fixtures. The national side will need to reorganise their forward options for the two‑legged tie against Jamaica, while Wolves will look to other players to fill the void until the striker’s return.