Mexico’s Giovani dos Santos netted two shots in the World Cup match against Cameroon, but neither were counted due to questionable calls by the referees. At 25-years-old, dos Santos has become one of the leading striker’s on the Mexican national team.
Watch the video above to see Scout Nation’s analysis of the Mexican super star.
Here’s what you need to know about him:
1. He Was Robbed of Two Goals Against Cameroon
In the first half of Mexico’s match against Cameroon in the World Cup, Dos Santos kicked two beautiful shots past Cameroon’s goalkeeper. Both goals were deemed offsides, although in videos such as the one above, it is obvious that he was not actually off sides.
Luckily, this did not end up hurting Mexico to detrimentally after they scored the only goal counted of the game in the 61st minute that was assisted by Dos Santos when he took a shot that was stopped by Charles-Hubery Itandje but then rebounded into the goal by Dos Santos’ teammate, Oribe Peralta.
2. FC Barcelona Began His Career
(Getty)
As an up an coming star in the soccer world, Dos Santos was named the second MVP of the U-17 World Cup when Mexico won the title. He was first scouted and recruited by Barcelona’s B team, attending a prestigious academy in Barcelona called La Masia in 2006.
The next year he was promoted to the main FC Barcelona team for a year before transferring to Tottenham Hotspur in 2008.He continued to play for Tottenham Hotspur, but his quality of play began to worsen before the London based team loaned him to Ipswich, Galatasaray and then Racing Santander.
After the loans he signed a 4-year contract with Mallorca in 2012, but somehow transferred to Villareal the next year. He is currently excelling at his new club, tallying 11 goals with 8 assists in the 2013-2014 season.
His current salary is $780,840.
3. This is His Second World Cup
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Giovani was voted runner-up for the FIFA Young Player of the Tournament award after starting in every game for Mexico in Group A during the 2010 World Cup, but was beaten out by Germany’s Thomas Müller
As a right winger striker, Dos Santos had 138 successful passes, but left South Africa with no goals or assists.
4. He Was Injured Before the Final in the 2012 London Olympics
The Mexican national team takes gold at the 2012 London Olympics. (Getty)
Although Dos Santos was a key player on the Mexican National team throughout their journey to the gold medal in the 2012 London Olympics, Dos Santos was not a part of the final leg of the victory.
In a press conference prior to the final match against Brazil, Mexican coach Luis Fernando Tena announced:
The injury is not that serious but it does not allow him to play. He is sad, he had dreams of playing in this game. His injury will take two weeks to heal. On Monday he will show up at his club and start his rehabilitation. He is at his best right now and nobody saw the injury coming.”
Dos Santos was 23-years-old at the time and managed to be the star player after technically completing only one match when he scored 3 goals in the quarterfinal and semifinal which he ended up getting hurt in.
The semifinal against Japan resulted in a pulled hamstring, keeping him from competing in the final game.
5. He is Engaged to Alexia Imaz
@AlexiaImaz in the red carpet of @MEICMEDSPA wearing @Moschino @LouboutinWorld and a lovely birkin bag #Hermes #RT pic.twitter.com/5yBCkoOnrT
— Fashion Stars Inc.® (@_FStars) May 23, 2014
Dos Santos reportedly asked Alexia Imaz to marry him in the August of 2013. Imaz is the daughter of the head of Cisen in Mexico, Eugenio Imaz Gispert.
Dos Santos gave his girlfriend a Tiffany & Co. ring with lots of diamonds and their relationship, although it has not been very public seems to be flourishing after tweets exchanged last summer between the two.