Years Team Role Football player 1990–1991 Cruz Azul Height 1.75 m | 1991–1992 Queretaro Weight 69 kg Name Luis Hernandez | |
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Full name Luis Arturo Hernandez Carreon Date of birth (1968-12-22) 22 December 1968 (age 47) Place of birth Poza Rica, Veracruz, Mexico Profiles | ||
Luis Arturo "El Matador" Hernández Carreón (born December 22, 1968 in Poza Rica, Veracruz, Mexico) is a retired Mexican football striker, the fourth highest goalscorer of all-time for the Mexico national football team, and their highest goalscorer in World Cups. Hernández played with teams in Mexico, Argentina and the United States. He played well in South America, especially in his Copa América performances. He is widely regarded and one of the most talented strikers in the Americas.
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Club career
In Mexico, Hernández played with a number of clubs, including Querétaro F.C., Cruz Azul, C.F. Monterrey, Necaxa, Club América, UANL Tigres, CD Veracruz, and Chiapas, and was twice named Mexico's Player of the Year in 1997 and 1998. He also played in Mérida Argentina, when he was signed by South American club Boca Juniors after his brilliant performance in the 1997 Copa América, but he failed to break into the starting line-up and spent the rest of his time on the bench. Returning to Mexico bitterly disappointed, he played with Necaxa and later on with UANL Tigres. It was with these two clubs, that he displayed his stupendous form, scoring 9 goals in 12 matches with Necaxa and 38 goals in 64 games with Tigres. He also became the only player to score goals in the Clásico Regiomontano with both teams from Monterrey.
After a few seasons with Tigres without qualifying to playoffs, Hernández ventured into the United States, in 2000 and signed with Major League Soccer club Los Angeles Galaxy. Hernández registered 15 goals in 40 games in the regular season and playoffs for the Galaxy. Hernández returned to Mexico in 2002 to play two more seasons with several clubs, including Club América, C.D. Veracruz and Jaguares de Chiapas, before retiring in 2004.
International career
Known for his long blond hair, number 15 jersey and nickname of El Matador, Hernández had his first international cap against Uruguay on February 1, 1995. Hernández scored his first international goal on November 16, 1995 against Yugoslavia. Hernández gained notability during the 1997 Copa América, where he scored six goals and became the tournament's leading goal scorer. At the 1998 FIFA World Cup, he finished among the competition's top scorers with four goals, and became the first Mexican player to score more than two goals in World Cup history. The 35 goals he scored for Mexico puts him behind Carlos Hermosillo to trail Cuauhtémoc Blanco (39 goals) and Jared Borgetti (46 goals) as the nation's 3rd highest all-time leading goalscorer.
Hernández also played in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, albeit as a substitute in three games, and failed to score. Hernández made his last international cap on June 17, 2002 against the United States.