Mexico continued the winning run at the FIFA World Cup 2026, defeating Ecuador 2-0 to win its first knockout game in 40 years. The win wouldn’t have been possible without Julian Quinones, who paved the way for a victory by scoring the opening goal for his team before assisting in the second.
The fans at Estadio Azteca went berserk following the opening goal, chanting Quinones’ name at full volume. A packed stadium cheering his name for keeping Mexico’s World Cup hopes alive must have been a dream come true moment for Quinones, who faced racial slurs two years ago in the Mexican city of Guadalajara.
Quinones was born in Colombia to parents of Afro-Colombian heritage and became a Mexican citizen in 2023. He was raised in Magui Payan, a small town located in southern Colombia within the Telembí Triangle – a violence-ridden region. A guerrilla group nearly forced him to join them. Quinones’ childhood was not easy. His father left the family when he was a toddler, and his mother worked at a store, struggling to make ends meet. He loved football, but his mother couldn’t afford a pair of boots. He thus played most of his football during childhood days barefoot.
“Knowing where he comes from and how far he’s come isn’t easy. It’s not easy. The number of obstacles he’s faced, the number of problems he’s had. And he always held his head high, always gave 120%,” Quinones’ childhood coach Cesar Valencia told ESPN Mexico.
“It helped him because he developed incredibly strong ankles. It gave him balance and power in his movements,” Valencia reflected. Finally, Valencia dug into his own savings and brought him a pair of shoes.
The Move That Changed Everything
Quinones attended a trial for Futbol Paz, an academy scouting talented football players from Colombia. He was selected, and it proved to be a significant moment in his shift to Mexico. Two years later, he was spotted by Mexican Club Tigres UANL and moved to Mexico, where he consistently delivered spectacular results. However, that didn’t save him from racial abuse, but he chose to suffer in silence and let his football do the talking. He stayed away from social media, worked hard to improve his game and continued proving his commitment to Mexico every time he stepped onto the pitch.
The Saudi Success Before Glory
He joined the Saudi Pro League in 2024, and last year, he outscored the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Ivan Toney by scoring 33 goals. Despite the remarkable achievement, he remained humble. “I am nobody to compete with him. Just tell me how many fans I have,” he said, downplaying comparisons with Ronaldo and choosing humility over personal glory.