We wish every pitch invader was like this.
Last Tuesday during a match between Pumas UNAM and Deportivo Tachira FC, a great thing happened. We're not talking about a golazo or a comeback or a fight, we're talking about a pitch invader. And what a good pitch invader he was.
We’ve all heard the critique before, we’ve even been a party to it. Is Major League Soccer a retirement home for European stars seeking one final paycheck and the benefits of living in North America?
The answer to this question is clearly important with regards to the national, as well as global, perception of MLS.
Before Mexican striker Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez set the world on fire at Bayer Leverkusen, he was a backup Manchester United striker who just wanted some playing time. He almost went to MLS to get it.
Bayer Leverkusen ended up with Hernandez, but also in the mix were Juventus, Lazio and Orlando City, among others.
From ESPNFC:
Mexico's Olympic gold medal defense this summer in Rio will happen without El Tri's best available striker. Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez announced late last week he would forego the Olympics and concentrate on the Copa America Centenario in the USA instead.
From the Los Angeles Times:
It'e nearing the end of the season in Portugal's Premeira Liga, and the title is still very much up for contention. Leaders Benfica hold a two point lead over second-place Sporting CP thanks to some late heroics this Sunday against Rio Ave by Benfica's 24-year-old Mexican striker, Raul Jimenez.
In the 73rd minute, Benfica found themselves 0-0 with sixth-place Rio Ave, and if the game had ended with that score Benfica would only be ahead in the league on goal differential. Jimenez had other plans, however, and they involved using his head.
Bayer Leverkusen and Mexico National Team striker Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez is already having the best club season of his professional career, and it just keeps getting better for the Little Pea.
Leverkusen found themselves losing 2-0 to Schalke 04 early in the second half Saturday before scoring three goals in six minutes to capture a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
Chicharito got the third, which proved to be the eventual winner.
Portuguese club Porto is the largest outpost for Mexican internationals in Europe, with the likes of Miguel Layun, Hector Herrera and Jesus "Tecatito" Corona in the first team, and Diego Reyes on loan at Real Sociedad.
Ostensibly, one of the reasons Porto employs so many Mexico internationals is those Mexico internationals are playing really well for them.
Just Look at their 4-0 win against Nacional Sunday, which featured this goal by Hector Herrera (assisted by Tecatito).
Portuguese powerhouse Benfica had a chance against Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinals, going into the second leg down only 1-0 on aggregate. They had even more of a chance after Mexican striker Raul Jimenez put the hosts up 1-0 to tie the contest on aggregate.
Holy Chit!!! Raul Jimenez gives Benfica the lead! Wow! Golazo! #PanchoVillasArmy
Childhood friends Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez and Marco Fabian had a so-called Mexican Skype Duel, courtesy of the Bundesliga's official YouTube account. Hernandez and Fabian grew up in the Chivas Guadalajara youth system together, and have been reunited this season in the Bundesliga, at Bayer Leverkusen and Eintracht Frankfurt respectively.
It's not exactly a secret that Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez has been having a great year for Bayer Leverkusen, but even we didn't realize he was having by far his best season ever.
He has 25 goals already this season, which is the most he has ever scored in his club career. He kept it going against Cologne this weekend: