A year ago, Javier Hernandez considered quitting soccer and going back to school. Now, the 20-year-old who has four goals and an assist in three recent exhibition games for Mexicoand has 10 goals in 12 games for Mexican league leader Chivas Guadalajara, is expected to star for Mexico at next summer’s World Cup.
Billy Witzrecounts a breakfast discussion Hernandez had with his mother, his father and his agent in which they convinced him to be patient. “As a young player he was impatient. We talked to him about beingpersistent and in time everything would come,” said his father, Javier Sr.
Known as Chicharito, or Little Pea, Hernandez is Mexico’s latest soccer sensation. “A year ago,he didn’t really exist for anybody,” said his agent, Eduardo Hernandez. “Now, everybody wants him — sponsors, media, fans. He’s got a very busyagenda.”
Hernandez’s grandfather Tomas Balcazar starred for Chivas’ famed teams in the 1950s and scored for Mexico in the 1954 World Cup. His father was astandout for Tecos and made the 1986 World Cup team. “I never thought he would actually make it as a professional,” Javier Sr. said. “We never thought he’d be in the first division.But little by little he started maturing, and at about age 15, we saw that change in him. When his goal was to become a professional, we supported him, but it was up to him. Whatever he decided, wewere there to help.”