Jared Borgetti

Mexican danger man

Mexican forward Jared Borgetti jubilates after his goal during the Confederations cup third place final football match Germany vs Mexico, 29 June 2005 at the Zentral stadium in Leipzig. AFP PHOTO FRANCOIS GUILLOT

Having scored fourteen goals during qualification, defences at the 2006 World Cup have been served fair warning that Mexico's Jared Borgetti is a menace to be marked closely.

No other player anywhere on the planet scored so many goals on the road to Germany.

On the subject of goal tallies Borgetti holds the record as Mexico's top ever international goalscorer, passing the 36 goals scored by Carlos Hermosillo and Luis Hernandez, with his 37th in a 2-0 win over Costa Rica in August 2005.

Mexico's forward Jared Borgetti (extreme L) eyes the ball with Italy's goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon (extreme R) as defenders Paolo Maldini (2nd L) and Alessandro Nesta (3rd R) try to intercept his strike during match 43 group G of the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea Japan 13 June, 2002 in Oita, Japan. Borgetti scored the first goal against Italy. Mexico's midfielder Joahan Rodriguez is 2nd R. AFP PHOTO GABRIEL BOUYS

Borgetti is a wily opportunist rather than a great workhorse, his greatest weapon being a bullet-like header, one such memorable goal came during the 2002 World Cup, nodded past Gianluigi Buffon in a 1-1 draw with Italy.

He began his career at the Atlas Guadalajara and came to national prominence at Santos Laguna where his constant stream of goals, including 41 from 43 matches in 2000 signaled his ascension to the top of his trade.

A new adventure

He didn't get his big international break until after the 1998 World Cup in France, which he missed, but is a fundamental piece of Mexico's coach Carlos Lavolpe's plan with the 'Tri', as the national team is nicknamed, in order to get ready for Germany.

Bolton's Mexican striker Jared Borgetti shoots to score the winning goal against Lokomotiv Plovdiv in their UEFA cup match at Reebok stadium in Bolton, 15 September 2005. Bolton won the match 2-1.AFP PHOTO/RAY BRADBURY

In the 2005 close season he launched into a brand new adventure with an exciting switch to the vastly different English Premier League at northern side Bolton Wanderers, becoming the first Mexican to try his luck in Britain.

The tough veteran has adapted well to life in the blood and thunder English game and soon scored his first goal for Bolton, a winner, in a 2-1 victory over Lokomotiv Plovdiv in a UEFA Cup match.

Burying Brazil

Mexican forward Jared Borgetti (R) heads off the ball to score a goal during the Confederations cup football match Mexico vs Brazil, 19 June 2005 at the Hanover stadium. AFP PHOTO PATRIK STOLLARZ

A peculiarity of Borgetti is his habit of bagging match-winning goals against Brazil, the latest coming during a 1-0 win in the Confederations Cup in Germany 2005, but earlier goals in the Copa America in 2001 and the Gold Cup in 2003 also sealed wins over Brazil.

The 'Desert Fox', as he is called in Mexico, had missed a penalty in the 2005 Brazil tie before getting the 59th minute decider, which says something about his guts.

"I don't crumble easy," he said afterwards. "I have great confidence in myself."

A quality that should serve him well when he returns to Germany in June 2006 where he at least will be hoping to renew certain acquaintances.