Julian Quinones' secret to scoring for Mexico at the World Cup
Julian Quinones has scored three goals for Mexico at the 2026 World Cup by bursting inside from the wing and firing low to the near post—a finishing move he refuses to explain, smiling and calling it his secret. The Colombian-born naturalized striker is now El Tri's top scorer and one goal from matching Mexico's single-tournament records. His run has turned one of the tournament's loudest debates into a story about results.
Key Takeaways
- Quinones credits a near-post shot from wide attacks for three World Cup goals against South Africa, Czech Republic, and Ecuador.
- He chose Mexico over Colombia in 2023, citing gratitude for the country where he built his career and family.
- Tuca Ferretti coached him at Tigres from age 17 and says he is Mexico's best naturalized international.
- With three goals, Quinones needs one more to match Javier Chicharito Hernandez and Luis Matador Hernandez.
- His Saudi Pro League scoring title helped convince coach Javier Aguirre to keep him in the squad.
What Is Julian Quinones' Secret Scoring Technique?
When reporters asked Julian Quinones why he shoots at the near post instead of crossing the ball, he smiled and said, "it's a secret," according to ESPN Deportes. The pattern is visible on the pitch: he uses his pace and power to cut inside from the flank and strike a hard shot to the goalkeeper's near side.
That same move produced goals against South Africa, Czech Republic, and Ecuador, including his round-of-16 opener in a 2-0 win. It also helped him finish as Saudi Pro League top scorer ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo, a run that convinced Javier Aguirre to trust him despite earlier doubts before the World Cup.
Why Did Julian Quinones Choose Mexico Over Colombia?
Quinones was born in Magui Payan, Colombia, but arrived in Mexico in 2015 at 17 to join Tigres' youth setup. He later starred at Atlas and Club America, won back-to-back league titles, and naturalized as Mexican in 2023, as MARCA reported.
Colombia approached him before his naturalization was official, but he rejected the call because his commitment to Mexico was already final. He has said the country gave him stability, peace of mind, and a family life—his children were born in Mexico—and that representing El Tri is his way of saying thank you.
How Did Tuca Ferretti Shape Quinones' Early Career?
Ricardo "Tuca" Ferretti was the first coach to work with Quinones in Mexico. On the "Entre Barbas y Bigotes" podcast, Ferretti recalled that Quinones was "the cheapest player" Tigres signed at 17 and that he gave him individual tips on right-foot shooting and ball control, according to Infobae.
Ferretti also urged him to sharpen his left foot so defenders could not shut down his preferred angle. The coach now calls Quinones the best naturalized player in Mexico's history, surpassing Antonio Naelson "Sinha," who starred at Germany 2006.
What World Cup Records Is Quinones Chasing Now?
After opening the scoring against Ecuador in the round of 16, Quinones became Mexico's leading scorer at the 2026 World Cup with three goals. He is one strike away from the four-goal single-tournament marks set by Javier Chicharito Hernandez in 2010 and Luis Matador Hernandez in 1998.
His partnership with Raul Jimenez has given Mexico a reliable front line, and his confidence has stayed high even while playing in Saudi Arabia rather than Europe. For more trending sports and culture coverage, follow our Fintech & Crypto Alerts feed.