Raúl Jiménez wears something on his head because it is a custom protective headband designed to protect a spot on his skull that was fractured in a life‑threatening injury.

The injury that started it all

In November 2020, while playing for Wolverhampton Wanderers against Arsenal, Jiménez collided head‑first with defender David Luiz while trying to defend a corner.

The clash caused a fractured skull and some bleeding inside the brain, requiring quick surgery to relieve pressure on his brain.

He described it as the bone breaking and the injury pushing his brain inward, which is why the operation had to be done urgently.

Why he still wears the headband

Since recovering and returning to football, Jiménez has worn a medically approved protective head guard in every match, including at the 2026 World Cup.

The headband:

  • Covers the area of his skull fracture and his surgical scar.
  • Uses shock‑absorbing, ultra‑lightweight materials to spread out impact forces and reduce the intensity of collisions.
  • Gives him both physical protection and mental confidence to keep doing aerial duels and heading the ball, which are key parts of his playing style.

He has been wearing it for around five years, and it is not just a sweatband but a specialized piece of sports engineering tailored to his injury.

Is it mandatory or optional?

The headguard is medically recommended and part of his ongoing safety plan after such a severe injury, rather than a fashion choice.

Some forum comments suggest he “doesn’t need to wear it anymore, he just chooses to do so,” but the consistent explanation from reports is that it remains a protective measure to minimize the risk of reinjury in high‑impact situations.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.