Cruz Azul
(Mexico), Monterrey (Mexico), Necaxa (Mexico), America (Mexico),
Tigres (Mexico), Veracruz (Mexico), Chiapas (Mexico), Boca
Juniors (Argentina), Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS - USA)
Honours
???
Biography
Luis Hernández (born December 22, 1968 in Poza Rica, Mexico) is
a Mexican football striker and one of the top all-time
goalscorers for the Mexican national team.
Hernández, known for his dyed blond hair and nickname of El
Matador, burst onto the world scene during the 1997 Copa
América, where he scored six goals and became the tournament's
leading goal scorer. He was once again at the top of his game at
the 1998 World Cup, finishing among the competition's top
scorers with four goals. The 35 goals (in 85 caps) he scored for
Mexico tie him with Carlos Hermosillo and trail only Jared
Borgetti as the nation's all-time leading goalscorer. Hernández
also played in the 2002 World Cup, albeit as a substitute, and
failed to score.
In Mexico, Hernández played with a number of clubs, including
Cruz Azul, Monterrey, Necaxa, America, Tigres, Veracruz, and
Chiapas, and was twice named Mexico's Player of the Year (1997,
1998). He also played in Argentina, when he was signed by South
American giants Boca Juniors after his brilliant performance in
the 1997 Copa America, but he failed to break into the first
team even though he scored at least one goal in every game he
played. After returning to Mexico, El Matador also ventured into
the United States, where, in 2000, the Major League Soccer
Association thought they landed a coup when they paid the
Mexican striker a reported $4 million to play with Los Angeles
Galaxy. Expected to easily tear the league apart (and help at
the gate), El Matador was generally considered a dissapointment
in two seasons with the Los Angeles Galaxy. Despite scoring 17
goals in 40 regular season and playoff games, the desired rise
of attendance was not seen at all. Hernández then returned to
Mexico for good in 2002.
