# Julian Quinones Scores Historic First Goal for Mexico in 2026 World Cup Opener

*Julian Quinones, born in Colombia, made history by scoring the first goal of the 2026 World Cup for Mexico.*

June 13, 2026 · Sports

## At a glance

- Julian Quinones scored the first goal of the 2026 World Cup in 8 minutes 32 seconds.
- He is the first Mexican player to score the opening goal of a World Cup.
- Quinones outperformed Cristiano Ronaldo in goal-scoring this season.

Julian Quinones, born in Colombia but representing Mexico, scored the first goal of the 2026 World Cup in just 8 minutes and 32 seconds. This historic moment marks the first time a Mexican player has scored the opening goal of a World Cup. Quinones, who switched his allegiance from Colombia to Mexico, joins an elite list of players who have scored the first goal in World Cup history, including Pele, Paul Breitner, Ademir, Jurgen Klinsmann, and Philipp Lahm.

Quinones's journey to this moment began in Colombia, where he played for local clubs before moving to Mexico. Despite representing Colombia's youth teams, he chose to play for Mexico after marrying a Mexican woman. His goal not only thrilled Mexican fans but also set a new record as the first player born outside his representing country to score the first goal of a World Cup.

In the current season, Quinones has outperformed Cristiano Ronaldo in goal-scoring, with 37 goals in 35 matches compared to Ronaldo's 30 goals in 37 matches. His contributions have been crucial for Mexico, including a decisive goal in the World Cup opener.

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Source: https://pulsetoday.com.bd/en/sports/julian-quinones-makes-history-world-cup-first-goal