Luis Hernandez Biography

1968-

Mexican soccer player

Luis Hernandez is Mexico's top all-time scorer in international soccer with 35 goals (having passed Carlos Hermosillo in that category in 2000). He led the Mexicans to one of their best World Cup showings ever in 1998 when he scored four goals in four games, winning for them a berth in the round of 16 and leading them to a near upset of powerhouse Germany. While less successful with professional teams in Argentina and the United States, "El Matador," he of the flowing blond hair, remains, even in the twilight of his career, one of his country's most revered athletes.

"Hernandez has a burst of speed second to none in the (penalty) area and also has the ability to beat players one on one," the FIFA World Cup Web site said of Hernandez during the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan. "He has a temper and has been known to lose it and has been struggling with injuries the last two years."