Julian Quinones Powers Mexico With 3 Goals and 1 Assist in 4 World Cup Games

Q: Can this Colombian-born star finally break Mexico's 40-year World Cup curse on home soil?

Yes — Julián Quiñones gives Mexico its best chance in decades to end the “quinto partido” curse, but he is not enough on his own. The evidence is strong. Quiñones has been Mexico’s standout player at this World Cup, with three goals, one assist and two Man of the Match awards in four games. He scored in the opener against South Africa, again versus Czechia, and then against Ecuador, before striking in the last-16 tie with England at the Azteca. That makes him Mexico’s most productive player in a single World Cup since 1966. His form did not begin in this tournament. He arrived after a 33-goal Saudi Pro League season with Al-Qadsiah, winning the Golden Boot ahead of Ivan Toney and Cristiano Ronaldo. Mexico also have conditions in their favor: home support, altitude in Mexico City, and a strong historical record when hosting. Their only previous quarter-final runs came on home soil, in 1970 and 1986. Still, the obstacle remains significant. Mexico’s 40-year barrier is not just about lacking a scorer; it reflects repeated failures to get beyond the knockout threshold. England remain elite opposition, and breaking the curse requires defensive control, composure and support around Quiñones. So the answer is that he can be the difference-maker, and right now he looks like Mexico’s clearest route to history. But whether the curse finally ends depends on Mexico turning his individual brilliance into a complete team performance.

3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jul 3

Three goals and one assist in four matches have made Julian Quinones Mexico's most productive player at the 2026 World Cup, matching the national record of four goal involvements in a single edition since at least 1966.
The 29-year-old left winger scored in wins over South Africa, the Czech Republic and Ecuador, and earned man-of-the-match awards twice before Mexico's last-16 meeting with England at the Azteca.
Quinones arrives in that tie in prolific form after scoring 62 goals in 68 games for Al-Qadsiah, including 33 last season to win the Saudi Pro League golden boot ahead of Ivan Toney and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Born in Colombia, Quinones moved to Mexico at 17, scored more than 70 league goals there, then chose Mexico after becoming eligible through naturalisation and now says the country 'welcomed me with arms wide open.'