Santiago Giménez, Mexican striker, publicly revealed that his first figure to mark him in football was Maniche, the Portuguese midfielder who stood out at FC Porto.
Giménez's choice of Maniche may seem surprising, as the two players play in different positions on the field. However, the Mexican acknowledged the influence that the Portuguese footballer had on his development.
Maniche was one of the stars of the FC Porto team that achieved victory in the Champions League in 2004, under the command of José Mourinho, becoming a reference of Portuguese football of that era.
This revelation by Giménez demonstrates how inspiration in football can cross borders and generations, with a Mexican player admiring a Portuguese midfielder who shone two decades ago in European football.
