Julian Quiñones scores the first goal of the 2026 World Cup as Mexico beat South Africa. The Saudi Pro League's top scorer shines.
Mexico forward Julian Quinones scored the opening goal of the 2026 World Cup against South Africa. The 29-year-old, who finished as the Saudi Pro League's top scorer with 33 goals, beat Cristiano Ronaldo and Ivan Toney to achieve the feat .
Mexico forward Julian Quinones don write im name into World Cup history books. The 29-year-old scored the first goal of the 2026 tournament in Mexico's 2-0 victory over South Africa at the Estadio Azteca. The goal came in the ninth minute after a costly error from South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams. Erik Lira won possession near the edge of the area, and Quinones fired a low shot through the goalkeeper's legs to give the hosts the lead.
The goal carries special significance because e show say Quinones don carry im club form into the biggest stage for world football. The Al-Qadsiah striker finished the 2025/26 Saudi Pro League season as the top scorer with 33 goals. He beat England striker Ivan Toney, wey finish second with 32 goals, and Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, wey end the campaign with 28 goals. The victory on the final matchday, where he scored a hat-trick against Al-Ittihad, allowed am to leapfrog Toney at the very last moment.
Quinones, wey secure Mexican citizenship in October 2023, now join an exclusive group of players. The list of players wey don score the opening goal for World Cup include Brazil's Cesar Sampaio (1998), Senegal's Papa Bouba Diop (2002), Germany's Philipp Lahm (2006), South Africa's Siphiwe Tshabalala (2010), Brazil's Marcelo (2014), Russia's Yuri Gazinski (2018), and Ecuador's Enner Valencia (2022) . Now, the 29-year-old Colombian-born forward don add im name to that history.
As e be now, Quinones don prove say im 33-goal season no be fluke. The goal against South Africa, im fifth in 24 appearances for Mexico, show say e fit deliver when e matter most. Mexico go now face South Korea and the Czech Republic for their remaining Group A matches, and the fans dey expect more from the Saudi Pro League top scorer.
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