Soccer Star Chicharito's Sexist Rant Backfires as Mexico's President Steps In

Mexican soccer player Javier "Chicharito" Hernández lit up social media with such sexist remarks that they not only provoked widespread outrage but also led Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to speak out against him.

"He's a great soccer player, but he has a lot to learn," the president said at her morning press conference on Wednesday, July 23. And with that, she made it clear that, in the midst of 2025, repeating retrograde discourses about the role of women will not be tolerated, no matter how famous you are or how many goals you've scored.

In a series of videos he posted on social media, Chicharito addressed women with phrases like:

"You are failing... by eradicating masculinity. Embody your feminine energy: caring, cleaning, holding the home... don't be afraid of being led by a man."

He also spoke to men, encouraging them to "reclaim their leadership" and "express themselves without fear," in the same tone that has made him an echo of the "manosphere" and the "red pill" gurus' discourse.

A slip? Not at all: he's done it before.

This isn't the first time Chicharito has displayed signs of machismo. Since his divorce from Sarah Kohan in 2021, he has shared stereotype-laden reflections through live streams with his life coach Diego Dreyfus. In those videos, he spoke about "masculine energies" and the "true role of men in the family." In another clip that also went viral months ago, he compared empowered women to a "society without a compass."

Many let it go. Not this time.

Sheinbaum enters the field

What was surprising this time was that the response came not only from activists or social media users, but from the country's top political figure. From the National Palace, Sheinbaum was blunt:

"Let's call it by its name: it's a very sexist idea."
"I am a mother, I am a grandmother, I am a homemaker, but I am also the president of Mexico and supreme commander of the Armed Forces. Women can be whatever we want to be."

It was a direct, unfiltered message, with the strength of someone who understands what it means to repeat ideas that for centuries served to oppress half the population.

Rejection grows: inside and outside of football

The first to react were players from the Chivas women's team, which Chicharito represents, who shared a video of activist Mariana Valle with a clear reflection:

"Oppression isn't about sweeping, it's about the fact that for centuries we were told that was the only thing we could do."

The Liga MX Femenil also spoke out. Its president, Mariana Gutiérrez, confirmed that the gender protocol had been activated to analyze whether the forward's statements violate the Mexican Football Federation's Code of Ethics .

And from Spain, actress Sara Sálamo demanded that FIFA take action, calling Chicharito's remarks "a rancid, violent, and systematic message."

Why does it matter so much?

Because this isn't just a player spouting nonsense on Instagram. Chicharito has more than 12 million followers and a track record that makes him one of the most influential voices in Mexican sports. When someone like that promotes the idea that women should "be led," it's not an opinion: it's a step backward.

And because, on the other side, there's a generation of women—and men too—who are tired of that rhetoric. That's why the response was so massive. That's why even the president had to speak out.

What's next?

The ball is in the court of the Federation, the sponsors... and Chicharito himself. So far, he hasn't offered a public apology or clarified his statements. Meanwhile, the #TieneMuchoQueAprender hashtag continues to grow, and the debate continues: can a sports idol still speak as if it's 1950?