Just nine minutes after referee Wilton Sampaio blew his whistle to launch the 2026 World Cup, Julián Quiñones scored for Mexico, kick-starting El Tri toward a 2-0 win against South Africa.
The winger swooped in to collect a ball poked loose from South Africa midfielder Spephelo Sithole by teammate Erik Lira and fired home from just inside the box. Quiñones’ heroics earned him Man of the Match honors and a standing ovation from the crowd when he was subbed out in minute 79.
Your @MichelobUltra Superior Player of the Match is Julián Quiñones. 👑
#FIFAWorldCup #SuperiorPOTM pic.twitter.com/Cc7ZsOdUJK
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 11, 2026
Commentators described the performance as Quiñones’ best for Team Mexico since he earned his first cap on Nov. 17, 2023, and cemented his acceptance by El Tri fans who can be prickly about embracing naturalized players into their hearts.
His form comes as no surprise to those who have followed Quiñones’ career track, especially since the 29-year-old led the Saudi Pro League with 33 goals in 31 games this past season, topping even Cristiano Ronaldo, who finished third with 28 goals.
Julián Andrés Quiñones grew up in Magüí Payán, Colombia, a region known for armed conflict between guerrillas and the government. He started playing soccer barefoot and without his parents’ permission.
He arrived in Mexico in the summer of 2015 as an 18-year-old. He initially signed with Liga MX giants Tigres before moving to Atlas in 2021, then Mexico City powerhouse Club América, winning six titles along the way.
It was during his time with the Aguilas (as Club América is known) that Quiñones became a naturalized Mexican and earned his first invite to the national team.
In 2024, Quiñones joined Saudi Arabian side Al-Qadsiah and quickly settled into a role as a hybrid winger/central attacker. He continued to hone his skills as a playmaking forward, attracting the attention of Javier Aguirre, who took the reins as Mexico coach in July 2024.
By late 2025, Quiñones seemed certain to be a starter for El Tri in the 2026 World Cup, though his progress was slowed by a hamstring injury that caused him to miss the November 2025 and February 2026 training camps.
Aguirre finally summoned Quiñones for the March training camp — giving him starts in key friendlies against Portugal and Belgium — and he has been a fixture in the squad since the Saudi league ended in May.
After Thursday’s goal in Estadio Azteca — the fastest World Cup goal in Mexico’s history, surpassing a 22nd-minute goal scored by Fernando Quirarte against Iraq in the 1986 World Cup — Quiñones is quickly — becoming a fixture in the hearts of El Tri fans.
