Julián Quiñones: The Colombian-Born Star Who Chose Mexico and Took the World by Storm

Julian Quiñones is one of those players who makes you stop and pay attention. He was born in Colombia, built his career in Mexico, and now he’s lighting up the Saudi Pro League. To be honest, his story reads a bit like a movie. A kid from a small town who kept scoring goals until the whole football world had to notice.

In this post, we’ll walk through his background, his clubs, his big move to Saudi Arabia, and how he became a key face for the Mexican national team. Let’s get into it.

Quick Facts About Julián Quiñones

Here’s a simple table to give you the basics before we dig deeper.

Who Is Julián Quiñones?

Julian Quiñones is a Colombian-born, naturalized Mexican footballer who plays as a forward or winger. Right now he wears the number 33 shirt for Al-Qadsiah in the Saudi Pro League.

What’s interesting is that he didn’t take the easy road. He left Colombia as a teenager, spent years grinding in Mexican football, and slowly turned into one of the sharpest strikers around.

Early Life and Background

He was born on 24 March 1997 in Magüí Payán, a small town in the Nariño region of Colombia. Like a lot of young players from that part of the world, football was his ticket out.

He started his career at Futbol Paz, an amateur club in Cali. And the numbers there were wild. In the 2014–2015 season, he scored 50 goals in 38 matches. That kind of output doesn’t stay hidden for long.

Tigres UANL noticed and brought him over to their youth setup. That’s how a Colombian kid ended up building his whole football life in Mexico.

Career at Tigres UANL

Tigres was the club that gave Julian Quiñones his first real chance in Mexican football. He signed on, but breaking into the senior team wasn’t smooth.

Here’s the thing about big clubs like Tigres. The competition for spots is brutal. So the club sent him out on loan to get regular minutes and grow.

Even so, he picked up trophies during his time connected to the club, including Liga MX titles. But it was clear he needed to play more often to show what he could really do.

The Lobos BUAP Loan That Changed Things

The loan to Lobos BUAP in 2017 was a turning point. This is where people started saying his name.

In the Apertura 2017, he finished as one of the top scorers in the league with nine goals. Then he kept it going in the Clausura 2018 with eight more.

That season proved something simple. Give this guy minutes, and he’ll find the net. It set up everything that came next.

Atlas FC and the End of a 70-Year Drought

In 2021, he joined Atlas FC, first on loan and then permanently. And honestly, this is where his legend in Mexico really took shape.

Atlas hadn’t won a league title in about 70 years. Seven decades of waiting. Then Julian Quiñones helped end that drought, winning back-to-back Liga MX titles with the club.

For Atlas fans, that meant everything. He went from a promising forward to a genuine hero in that city.

Moving to Club América

In July 2023, Club América reached a deal to sign him. América is one of the biggest and most successful clubs in Mexico, so this was a step up in pressure and expectations.

His stay was short but productive. He added two more league titles to his name, bringing his personal total to six championships in Mexican football.

By this point, Julian Quiñones wasn’t just a good player. He was a proven winner.

Al-Qadsiah and the Record-Breaking Transfer

In June 2024, everything changed again. He moved to Saudi Pro League club Al-Qadsiah for a reported fee of $16 million.

That number made him the most expensive player ever sold by a Mexican club. A huge moment, both for him and for Liga MX as a whole.

His First Season in Saudi Arabia

He didn’t need time to settle. In the 2024–25 season, he scored 20 goals and quickly became a fan favorite.

The 33-Goal Golden Boot Season

The 2025–26 season was something special. On 21 May 2026, he scored a hat-trick in a 5–1 away win over Al-Ittihad.

That performance pushed him to 33 league goals, finishing as the Saudi Pro League’s top scorer. He edged out Ivan Toney on the final day and claimed the Golden Boot.

What makes it even bigger? He finished ahead of some huge names in that league. Not bad for a striker who once struggled for minutes at Tigres. Days later, he signed a new contract keeping him at the club until 2029.

The International Career of Julián Quiñones

His international story is one of the most talked-about parts of his career. And it’s easy to see why.

Playing for Colombia’s Youth Teams

Early on, he represented Colombia at youth level. He played at the 2017 South American U-20 Championship and the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games.

So the question was always there: would he play for Colombia or Mexico as a senior?

Choosing Mexico Over Colombia

In May 2023, he turned down a call-up to the senior Colombia national team. He had been living in Mexico since he was 17, and he felt more at home there.

He completed his naturalization and became eligible for the Mexican national team. It was a big decision, and not everyone agreed with it. But he chose the path that felt right to him.

Debut and First Goals for Mexico

He made his Mexico debut against Honduras in November 2023 in the CONCACAF Nations League. His first international goal came in March 2024 against Panama in a 3–0 win.

Step by step, he became a regular part of the setup for the Mexican national team.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup Moment

This is the part that turned him into a household name. He was named in Mexico’s 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted at home.

On 11 June 2026, he scored the opening goal of the entire tournament in a 2–0 win over South Africa. He was named Man of the Match.

Then he did it again in the round of 32 against Ecuador, scoring the opener and earning another Man of the Match award as Mexico won 2–0. Two knockout-stage goals, two standout performances. Talk about showing up when it matters most.

Honors and Achievements

Julian Quiñones has built a serious trophy cabinet. Here’s a quick look at the highlights:

• Liga MX titles: Multiple, with Tigres UANL, Atlas FC, and Club América
• CONCACAF Champions League: 2020 with Tigres
• CONCACAF Gold Cup: 2025 with Mexico
• CONCACAF Nations League: 2024–25 with Mexico
• Saudi Pro League Golden Boot: 2025–26
• Central American and Caribbean Games Gold: 2018 with Colombia U20

That’s a mix of club and international success across three different countries. Pretty rare when you think about it.

Personal Life: What We Actually Know

Now, this is where I want to be honest with you. A lot of details about his personal life aren’t publicly confirmed.

Things like his parents’ names, whether he’s married, or any details about children are not officially verified in reliable public sources. So instead of guessing or making things up, I’ll just say the truth: that information isn’t confirmed.

He has kept that side of his life fairly private, and that’s completely his choice. When solid details come out, they’ll be worth mentioning. For now, his football does the talking.

Final Thoughts on Julián Quiñones

So where does that leave us? Julian Quiñones went from scoring buckets of goals at an amateur club in Cali to winning a Golden Boot and starring at a home World Cup for Mexico.

He’s a Colombian-born, naturalized Mexican footballer who took a risky path and made it pay off. From Tigres UANL to Lobos BUAP, from Atlas FC to Club América, and now Al-Qadsiah, every stop added another chapter to his story.

If you want to explore even more about his stats, matches, and full career timeline, you can check out his detailed profile on Wikipedia. It’s a solid place to keep up with everything he does next.

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