Javier “Chicharito” Hernández, Mexico’s all-time leading international goalscorer with 52 goals, has agreed to become the inaugural player for Atlético Dallas, a brand-new USL Championship club that won’t even kick a ball until 2027. It’s the kind of splashy move designed to put a fledgling franchise on the map.
The signing and the club behind it
Atlético Dallas was founded on November 19, 2024, and is backed by owners Sam Morton and Matt Valentine. The club is scheduled to begin competition in the USL Championship in early 2027, with home matches at the historic Cotton Bowl stadium in Dallas.
Hernández’s resume includes stints at Manchester United, Real Madrid, and LA Galaxy, along with 52 international goals for Mexico, making him El Tri’s most prolific scorer ever. However, as of late July 2026, the signing has not been substantiated by major soccer or mainstream media outlets, and no confirmation is available from primary sources.
The club also recently acquired Dallas Trinity FC to unify its men’s and women’s professional soccer operations under one organizational umbrella.
