I’ve always had a soft spot for the ones who stand apart. The ones who refuse to blend in. Who light up the pitch not because they want attention, but because that’s just who they are.
That’s why the first time I saw Jorge Campos, I froze.
It was in the 1994 World Cup. That kit. A fluorescent blur of pinks and yellows and zig-zags that seemed to belong far from a football field. His gloves were oversized, his hair was shiny, and his smile was impossible to ignore.
All my friends were talking about him. And then I heard the rumour:
He plays as a striker in home games… and as a goalkeeper in away games.
Was it true? Was he that good - or that crazy?
Let’s find out. Let’s dive into the neon-lit, rule-breaking, utterly magical world of Jorge Campos.
Born Under the Acapulco Sun
Jorge Francisco Campos Navarrete was born on 15 October 1966 in Acapulco - a place better known for its waves and resorts than its footballers. But the beaches shaped him. He grew up barefoot, chasing balls on hot sand, building balance, reflexes and resilience.
He was short. Too short, by most standards - just 1.68m.
And in those childhood games, the shortest kid always got stuck in goal.
But Campos didn’t sulk. He improvised. He flipped, punched, kicked, and flew across the sand like a circus acrobat. He also refused to give up his first love - scoring goals. So even when he became a professional keeper, he never truly stopped being a striker.
"Goalkeeper? Yes. But I always had the soul of a forward."
The Striker Between the Posts
In 1988, Campos joined Pumas UNAM, one of Mexico’s most prestigious clubs. But with Adolfo Ríos as the starting keeper, Campos made a strange request: “Let me play as a striker.”
Oddly enough, the coach said yes. Tough one for the remaining strikers in the squad.
And Campos delivered 14 league goals in 1989/90, reportedly 24 in all competitions, even challenging for the Golden Boot.
Eventually, he reclaimed the gloves - but kept the instincts of a forward. In 1990/91, he became the starting goalkeeper for both Pumas and Mexico. That same season, he helped Pumas win the Mexican league, adding to the 1989 CONCACAF Champions’ Cup he had already won.
Between 1990 and 1995, he was awarded the Mexican Primera División Golden Glove five years in a row.
He was everywhere.
Sprinting off his line, launching counters with quick passes, saving with his feet, diving into chaos. A sweeper-keeper, blending freedom with flair.
In 1993, FIFA ranked him the third-best goalkeeper in the world, behind Schmeichel and Goycochea.
That same year, Mexico were invited to Copa América for the first time. With Campos in goal, they reached the final, losing 2-1 to Argentina and Gabriel Batistuta. But the message was clear: El Tri had arrived.
Weeks later, Campos helped Mexico win the CONCACAF Gold Cup, destroying the USA 4-0 in front of 131,000 fans at the Azteca. He was named Player of the Tournament.
A Rumour So Wild, It Changed the Rules
By now, the legend had begun:
At home, Campos played as a striker. Away, he played in goal.
It wasn’t entirely true. But it wasn’t entirely false either.
In some matches, he did play as a forward in one half and a goalkeeper in the other. Fans and journalists were confused. Opponents were outraged. Coaches were baffled.
Eventually, FIFA intervened, adjusting the rules:
You could no longer be registered as both a keeper and an outfield player in the same match.
Campos had forced football’s lawmakers to react. He had literally changed the rules of the game.
World Cup ’94 - Hello, World!
After being banned from Italia ’90 due to age-fraud scandals at youth level, Mexico returned in 1994, hosted by the United States.
Campos, now 27, was at his peak - and he looked it.
He designed his own kits: neon pyramids, jagged stripes, dizzying colours. He didn’t blend in, he exploded on screen.
But beneath the shirts was a brilliant keeper.
Mexico were drawn into Group E, alongside Norway, Ireland, and Italy - a group that would go down in history as the tightest ever, with all four teams finishing on four points. Campos began the tournament with a narrow 1-0 loss to Norway, then bounced back with a 2-1 victory over Roy Keane's Ireland. In the final group match, Mexico drew 1-1 with Italy, standing tall against the likes of Roberto Baggio, Casiraghi, and Signori.
Mexico emerged top of the group, by virtue of goals scored.
In the Round of 16, they faced Bulgaria, led by the lethal Hristo Stoichkov. The match went to penalties after a 1-1 draw. Campos made his mark, diving low to save a penalty from Krassimir Balakov. But it wasn’t enough. Two Mexican players missed, and El Tri were out.
Despite the early exit, Campos was a revelation.
His saves, his charisma, and his kaleidoscopic kits made him a global breakout star.
Nike took notice. In 1996, Campos became the first Mexican footballer to sign with the brand, joining the now-legendary “Good vs Evil” campaign alongside Cantona, Maldini, Figo, Ronaldo, and Kluivert.
MLS, More Goals, and a Neon Legacy
Campos embraced the spotlight - but never chased it.
In the mid-90s, he became one of the first big stars to join Major League Soccer, signing with LA Galaxy in 1996 and later Chicago Fire.
He didn’t just play - he captivated.
Mexican-Americans flooded stadiums to see him. He even scored for Atlante, volleying home after switching positions mid-match.
In 1997, he won the Invierno title with Cruz Azul.
In 1998, with Chicago Fire, he won the MLS Cup and the U.S. Open Cup.
Off the pitch, he co-designed his legendary kits with Daniel Ríos, founder of Aca Sport. What started as a bold experiment became a brand identity. Some jerseys even featured the words “Surfer” or “Acapulco” embroidered on the sleeves.
He wasn’t just a footballer. He was a walking mural.
France ’98 and the Battle at the Azteca
Campos returned for his second World Cup at France ’98, still the undisputed number one for Mexico and still the most recognisable goalkeeper on the planet.
In the group stage, Mexico opened with a confident 3-1 win over South Korea, two of the goals being scored by the iconic, long haired striker Luis Hernández.
Thrilling 2-2 draws against Belgium and the Netherlands followed, coming twice from behind to secure the draws - and the qualification for the next round. Against Belgium, Campos faced the likes of Marc Wilmots, Luis Oliveira and Luc Nilis, keeping El Tri in the game with vital stops. Against the Dutch, he came up against a fearsome front line of Marc Overmars, Dennis Bergkamp, and Ronald de Boer - and still managed to help Mexico secure another valuable point.
Unbeaten, Mexico progressed to the Round of 16, where they met Germany.
For a while, it looked like an upset was brewing. Mexico led 1-0, and Campos was defiant between the posts. But the Germans, ever relentless, clawed their way back. Two late goals by Klinsmann and Bierhoff crushed Mexican hopes, and the match ended 2-1 to Germany.
Campos was devastated - but not defeated.
“We showed we can play at this level,” he told reporters. “What we lacked was experience - not heart.”
The Greatest Triumph
In 1999, Mexico hosted the FIFA Confederations Cup - the first time the tournament was held outside Saudi Arabia.
Led by Campos, Cuauhtémoc Blanco, Claudio Suárez, and a young Rafa Márquez, El Tri marched through the tournament with swagger and belief. In the semi-finals, they edged out the USA in extra time, thanks to a golden goal from Blanco that sent the Azteca into a frenzy.
The final? Against Brazil. At a packed Estadio Azteca, with over 110,000 fans roaring from the stands.
It was chaos. It was glorious.
1-0 Mexico. 2-0. Then Brazil pulled one back. 2-1.
2-2, they tied it. 3-2 Mexico. 4-2.
And finally: Mexico 4-3 Brazil.
A match for the ages.
And for the first time, the Azteca erupted not for a club, but for the national team lifting a FIFA trophy.
Campos had done it. He had helped put Mexico on the global football map.
Retirement Is Optional
Campos played on until the early 2000s, returning to Tigres, Atlante, and finally Puebla.
He earned 129 caps for Mexico, making him a member of the FIFA Century Club.
He scored over 46 goals in his career, making him the third-highest scoring goalkeeper in football history, behind José Luis Chilavert and Rogério Ceni.
After retirement, he served as assistant coach to Ricardo La Volpe between 2004 and 2006, and later became a charismatic TV pundit.
Still Flying
Campos never disappeared.
In 2011, at 45, he played in a charity match with Messi, Romário, and Ariel Ortega - and pulled off acrobatic saves like it was 1994.
In 2022, he appeared in FIFA 22 as a FUT Heroes card - fans went wild.
In 2024, aged 58, he was honorary captain for York United vs Atlético Ottawa.
And then came the strangest rumour yet: He’d signed for Mexico FC, a tiny club in Spain’s Tercera RFEF, to play both in goal and up front.
Was it true? With Campos… you never know.
Always Glowing
Jorge Campos didn’t just play football. He performed it.
He broke the mould. Redefined the role. Brought joy, rebellion, and art to a position often seen as lonely and grey. He proved that size doesn’t matter, that being different isn’t weakness - it’s power.
He inspired goalkeepers. He inspired forwards. He inspired fans. He inspired me.
Because we all want to stand out sometimes. We all want to wear the neon shirt in a sea of greys. Campos showed us that it’s not only possible - it’s worth it.
What an absolute rock star he was.
