His iconic strike sealed Mexico’s 4-2 win over the USMNT in the 2011 final at a packed Rose Bowl in Los Angeles.
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One of Mexico’s most unforgettable goals in Gold Cup history came from Giovani Dos Santos in the 2011 final against the United States.
Gio scored a moment of pure magic. After drawing U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard out of his goal, he chipped the ball with exquisite technique into the top corner – arguably one of the tournament’s most beautiful strikes and a highlight in Mexico’s national team legacy. This year marks the 14th anniversary of what’s widely celebrated as the best goal ever seen in Gold Cup history.
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In that final at the Rose Bowl, the U.S. struck first – with Michael Bradley scoring in the eighth minute and Landon Donovan doubling the lead by the 23rd. More impressively, Freddy Adu had assisted on both goals. But Mexico would respond before halftime. Pablo Barrera scored in the 29th minute, and Andrés Guardado added another in the 36th to restore parity.
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Just after the break, Barrera completed his brace, giving Mexico a 3–2 advantage. The U.S. pressed to equalize, but Mexico pushed for the knockout blow. A long pass to Javier Hernández ricocheted, eventually falling to Gerardo Torrado, who released a perfect ball to Dos Santos. After controlling superbly on his left foot, Gio dribbled past defenders and Howard before lofting the ball into the far upper corner – sending the 90,000-strong crowd into delirium.
Though the U.S. had been dominant at home, losing only once in their prior 11 encounters with Mexico on U.S. soil, that night at the Rose Bowl belonged to El Tri. They won 4–2, with Dos Santos’s goal becoming the iconic moment that sealed the title.
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Dos Santos is considered one of the greatest talents ever produced by Mexican football. From an early age, he was in the spotlight – especially after leading Mexico to the U-17 World Cup title in Peru in 2005, a historic achievement for the nation.
However, despite his undeniable individual quality, many feel that his career with the senior national team fell short of expectations. Gio earned 107 caps with, scoring 19 goals. He featured in three World Cups (South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014, and Russia 2018), showing flashes of brilliance -most notably his memorable goal against the Netherlands in the 2014 tournament.
Despite some shining moments, inconsistency, injuries, and off-the-field decisions kept him from reaching the legendary status many predicted in his early years. Still, his legacy includes unforgettable highlights, such as his stunning goal against the U.S. in the 2011 Gold Cup final – widely regarded as the best in the tournament’s history.
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The U.S. vs. Mexico rivalry resumes Sunday in the 2025 Gold Cup final. Will there be more brilliant strikes like Dos Santos'?