Mexicans know Julián Quiñones can perform on a big stage. The Colombian-born winger was a bonafide Liga MX star during stints with heavyweights Tigres and Club América.Fans of Guadalajara-based Atlas FC remember Quiñones fondly as well. He was part of two consecutive championship seasons in 2021 and 2022 that broke the club’s 70-year trophy drought. The 29-year-old is now even more prolific for Saudi First Division side Al Qadsiah, finishing with 33 goals this past season, outscoring Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema. But there’s a huge difference between scoring against Saudi League defenders and in the opening game of a World Cup.When Quiñones earned Mexican citizenship in 2023, national team fans welcomed the decision. But that reception had become lukewarm after Quiñones only managed to score twice in 23 appearances for Mexico. His detractors didn’t approve of a dual national taking the spot of a Mexican-born player, either.Before Mexico coach Javier Aguirre handed him a start on Thursday against South Africa, Quiñones had opportunities that he didn’t capitalize on. In the last few months, Aguirre has been terse about his role on the team. But Quiñones’ goal in the ninth minute nearly brought the Estadio Azteca to its knees, and it may have finally given him the Hollywood moment that Mexico fans were expecting.“I’m happy and excited to score my first World Cup goal, in such a spectacular stadium with amazing fans,” Quiñones said after Mexico’s 2-0 win. “It’s important for me to acknowledge what my teammates did to secure the first three points. “We’ve felt the support of the fans these past few days. We’re connected and today it really showed.”There was no doubt that the raucous crowd at the famed arena inspired the Mexico players. Aguirre himself said his own players were in awe of the green-clad stadium when they walked out to warm up.It had been an emotionally draining win, he added. The Azteca is intimidating for the visitors. But it can also turn on Mexico when things go badly. Quiñones’ confident finish, and his decisive dribbling over nearly 80 minutes, kept the crowd in Mexico’s favor.Get free access to the most comprehensive World Cup coverage in The Athletic app.His five successful dribbles and five total shots was the best of all the Mexico players. His vision was on display, too. No other Mexico player made more line-breaking passes (defined by SkillCorner as those that progress the ball through, over or around organised defences) in the final third (five) or behind the defensive line (two) than Quiñones. It was a complete performance.In the graphic below it’s clear where Quiñones did the damage. And to Aguirre’s credit, Quiñones drifted into midfield to help unlock South Africa’s five-man backline. His total progressive actions (six) and involvements in attacking sequences paints a picture of an in-form player who rose to the occasion.Only a day earlier, his coach fielded questions regarding his inclusion in the starting XI. With Toluca winger Alexis Vega nursing a knee injury and Anderlecht’s César Huerta recently recovered from groin surgery, one reporter noted that Quiñones had his best moments playing centrally for both Atlas and Club América. So how would Aguirre justify playing him on the left side?“I assume you’ve watched Julián in Saudi Arabia. Did you see where he played?” Aguirre responded. “Maybe you didn’t. He plays on the left there. He scored 33 goals from the left. I watched him, I didn’t know him well.“Of course I saw him at Atlas, and then he went to Saudi Arabia. I spoke with Míchel, his coach (who left the club in December), and asked: ‘Where are you going to play him?’ He told me, ‘Out wide. I’ve got (Pierre-Emerick) Aubameyang inside, so Quiñones goes wide-to-in. He scored 33 goals.”It was a matter-of-fact answer from the manager about a player he clearly trusted to perform in one of Mexico’s biggest moments in recent memory. Thursday was the eighth time in World Cup history that Mexico had played in the inaugural match. They had never won until Quiñones and Raul Jimenez led them to victory on home soil.Moving forward, Quiñones won’t sneak up on any team that Mexico faces during the tournament. He has become their new danger man at exactly the right time.Jun 12, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms