Santiago Giménez was frustrated that his wonder goal for Mexico against Costa Rica was disallowed. The former Feyenoord striker thought he had scored the winner with an overhead kick in the Gold Cup match, but the VAR intervened.
Santiago Giménez believed he had provided the decisive highlight of the 2025 Gold Cup group stage when, deep in second-half stoppage time against Costa Rica, he executed a perfectly timed overhead kick that flew beyond Keylor Navas and rippled the net at Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas.
The 24-year-old forward, currently battling for minutes at AC Milan after a high-profile move from Feyenoord, had entered as a late substitute for the second match in succession. His acrobatic finish appeared to seal victory for Mexico and ignite a celebration that would echo well beyond the tournament. Seconds later, the stadium fell silent as referee Mario Escobar consulted the video assistant and ultimately cancelled the goal for offside involvement in the build-up.
The contentious phase began when a lofted diagonal pass targeted Julián Andrés Quiñones near the back post. Quiñones was marginally beyond the last defender. Although he made no contact with the ball, his proximity prompted Costa Rican full-back Juan Pablo Vargas to attempt a hurried defensive header. The clearance looped toward Giménez, who reacted instinctively and launched into a bicycle kick of exquisite technique. Despite the beauty of the finish, Law 11 dictates that merely influencing an opponent’s attempt to play the ball is enough to trigger an offside offence if the influencing player was in an illegal position. The VAR team judged that Quiñones’s presence had forced Vargas into action, obliging Escobar to disallow the strike.
The decision sparked immediate debate throughout the football community. Supporters of the ruling pointed out that officials had applied the letter of the law, a stance reinforced by previous clarifications from the International Football Association Board. Others argued that football’s laws ought to leave room for common-sense appreciation of moments that enhance the spectacle. The disallowed effort quickly became a viral clip on social platforms, where many fans contended that a defender taking deliberate control of the clearance should have reset offside considerations.
Giménez addressed the controversy while speaking to Mexican broadcasters after the match. He admitted to confusion over whether offside had been flagged against Quiñones or himself and questioned the explanation that a rebound had created the opportunity. In his view, the defender’s action constituted a deliberate clearance rather than an accidental deflection, meaning the phase should have restarted. Though clearly frustrated, Giménez remained composed, remarking that decisions of this nature are an unavoidable part of modern football and insisting that his focus had already shifted to the quarter-final.
From Mexico’s perspective, the broader picture remains positive. El Tri concluded the group stage on seven points, level with Costa Rica but ahead on goal difference. Earlier victories over the Dominican Republic and Suriname secured top spot in Group A and yielded a knockout meeting with Saudi Arabia, scheduled for the early hours of Sunday at 4:15 a.m. local time. The Green Falcons advanced as runners-up in Group D after spirited performances against Trinidad and Tobago and Haiti, plus a narrow defeat to the United States.
Mexico head coach Javier Aguirre now confronts a series of tactical dilemmas. Centre-back César Montes is nursing a hamstring strain; if he fails a late fitness test, Antonio Briseño may start alongside Johan Vásquez. On the flanks, Uriel Antuna’s pace offers direct penetration, yet his advanced positioning leaves space for counter-attacks that players such as Salem Al-Dawsari are adept at exploiting. In midfield, Edson Álvarez must balance his responsibilities as both shield and deep-lying distributor, particularly against Saudi Arabia’s compact central structure. Aguirre must also decide whether to reward Giménez with a starting berth after consecutive substitute appearances have showcased the striker’s match-changing potential.
For Giménez the tournament represents a pivotal moment in his career arc. Two prolific seasons in Rotterdam earned him a 32-million-euro move to Milan, where he competes with Tammy Abraham and Luka Jović for playing time. Six goals in 20 Serie A matches highlighted his finishing instincts, yet he is still searching for a defining performance in national colours. The overhead kick that never entered the record books nonetheless underlined his capacity to conjure individual brilliance under pressure. Teammates have noted that the disappointment appeared to galvanise him in subsequent training sessions, where he has practised first-time finishes and rehearsed movements aimed at breaking compact defensive lines.
Historically, Mexico have lifted the Gold Cup nine times but endured early exits in both 2021 and 2023, prompting the federation to appoint Aguirre with a mandate to restore regional supremacy. Progression to at least the semi-final would ease external pressure and reinforce belief within a squad that blends established figures such as Hirving Lozano with emerging talents like Luis Chávez. A potential semi-final against either Canada or Panama looms, yet players insist their focus is solely on the immediate challenge.
Elsewhere, Costa Rica depart the group phase satisfied with an identical points tally to Mexico and a defensive organisation that kept three clean sheets. Manager Miguel Herrera praised his back line for remaining disciplined under sustained second-half pressure and acknowledged that, on another night, Giménez’s overhead might have consigned his side to third place. Costa Rica will now prepare for a quarter-final against the United States, a fixture steeped in regional rivalry.
As for Giménez, the disallowed goal risks becoming the enduring image of his Gold Cup if he fails to score again. Yet football history is replete with players who responded to frustration by seizing the next opportunity. The striker has described this tournament as a stage for redemption following an inconsistent domestic season, and those closest to the squad report that he is channeling disappointment into renewed determination. Should he find the net against Saudi Arabia, the narrative will shift from injustice to resurgence, illustrating how swiftly fortunes can change in knockout football.
With Mexico’s path now clear, all eyes turn to Sunday’s quarter-final. The margins are thin, the stakes high, and Giménez’s overhead kick lingers as both a warning about the unforgiving nature of modern officiating and a promise of the spectacular moments he can still deliver.
