Hernandez: Mexico wants to win World Cup

Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez believes the previously inconceivable career paths of Mexican players should serve as inspiration at the World Cup this summer.

Mexico's all-time leading scorer believes his country should aim to win the showpiece in Russia, despite bookmakers pricing Juan Carlos Osorio's side as a clear outsider.

"Nobody told me that I couldn't join the best leagues in the world, win the Premier League twice, reach a Champions League final," the West Ham United forward said in an interview with Univision, as translated by ESPN's Tom Marshall.

"No one told Hugo (Sanchez) that he couldn't go to the best club in the world, Real Madrid, be the 'Pentapichichi.' No-one told Rafa (Marquez) that he couldn't win two Champions Leagues or play in all the World Cups he has.

"We want to be world champions, of course, and that's why we're going (to Russia). We don't want to put limits in any way. A lot of people complain that it's not realistic and we're not realists, but the reality is that people who don't dream and aspire to more and more are maybe the ones that are confused."

Mexico should face a decent examination of its credentials when it takes on Iceland in Santa Clara, Calif. on Friday. The smallest nation to ever qualify for a World Cup is on a high after reaching the quarter-finals at Euro 2016, but is stripped of its most recognisable star, Gylfi Sigurdsson. Mexico follows this with a friendly against Croatia in Dallas, Texas four days later.

Mexico begins its World Cup campaign against reigning champion Germany in Moscow on June 17.