Julián Quiñones makes Ballon d’Or history
Julián Quiñones became the second Mexican player nominated for the Men’s Ballon d’Or when the 2026 shortlist was announced on September 8. Guillermo Ochoa was the first Mexican nominee in 2007.
The 29-year-old Al-Qadsiah forward earned his first Ballon d’Or nomination after combining prolific club scoring with 4 World Cup goals for Mexico during the tournament co-hosted across North America.
Quiñones joins seven first-time nominees
The 2026 Men’s Ballon d’Or shortlist contains 30 players from clubs across several leagues. Quiñones represents Al-Qadsiah and Mexico, placing a Saudi Pro League forward among the candidates for football’s leading individual honor.
Quiñones is also one of seven first-time nominees on the 2026 list. The group includes Pau Cubarsí, Marc Cucurella, Ferran Torres, Willian Pacho, Gabriel Magalhães, Dayot Upamecano, and Quiñones himself.
Quiñones posts 41 goals in award season
Ballon d’Or records credit Quiñones with 41 goals and five assists across 46 matches during the 2025 to 2026 season. Those totals cover his performances for Al-Qadsiah and Mexico combined.
His nomination followed a season combining domestic scoring with international production. Quiñones finished as the Saudi Pro League’s top scorer before becoming Mexico’s leading scorer during the 2026 World Cup on home soil.
Quiñones wins Saudi Golden Boot
Quiñones won the 2025 to 2026 Saudi Pro League Golden Boot with 33 goals in 31 appearances for Al-Qadsiah. Ivan Toney finished second with 32, while Cristiano Ronaldo placed third with 28.
The race changed in the final round when Quiñones recorded a hat trick against Al-Ittihad. That performance moved him ahead of Toney and secured the scoring title after a season-long contest among leading Saudi forwards.
Quiñones scores first 2026 World Cup goal
Quiñones began his first World Cup by scoring after nine minutes against South Africa on June 11. Mexico won 2-0 in Mexico City, opening the tournament with a victory as one of the three co-host nations.
That goal carried a wider regional distinction. Quiñones became the first player representing a Concacaf nation to score the opening goal of a World Cup, adding an unusual record to his debut.
Quiñones helps Mexico sweep Group A
Mexico completed Group A with three victories and no goals conceded. Quiñones scored again in the 3-0 win over Czechia, giving him two goals before the expanded tournament moved into knockout play.
The unbeaten group run placed Mexico first in its section. Quiñones scored in two of three matches, while Mexico defeated South Africa, South Korea, and Czechia before entering the Round of 32.
Quiñones leads Mexico past Ecuador
Quiñones scored and assisted in Mexico’s 2-0 Round of 32 victory over Ecuador on July 1. His 22nd-minute goal opened the scoring before he created Raúl Jiménez’s second nine minutes later.
The result gave Mexico its first World Cup knockout victory since 1986, ending a 40-year wait. Mexico also became the first Concacaf nation to defeat a CONMEBOL opponent in a World Cup knockout match.
Quiñones reaches four World Cup goals
Quiñones added his fourth tournament goal against England in the Round of 16. Mexico lost 3-2 on July 6 in Mexico City, ending its World Cup campaign with a 4-0-1 record.
Mexico had kept four consecutive clean sheets before meeting England. Quiñones scored in the 42nd minute, bringing the hosts within one goal after England built a two-goal advantage earlier in the first half.
Quiñones ties Mexico World Cup record
Quiñones finished the World Cup with four goals, matching Luis Hernández and Javier Hernández for Mexico’s all-time tournament scoring record. No Mexican player has scored more than four World Cup goals.
He also produced five direct goal contributions during the 2026 tournament, combining four goals with one assist. That total surpassed Luis Hernández’s previous Mexican record of four contributions at the 1998 World Cup.
Quiñones chose Mexico after Colombia roots
Quiñones was born in Magüí Payán, Colombia, on March 24, 1997, and later became a Mexican citizen. He completed his naturalization process in 2023 after building most of his professional career in Mexico.
Mexico first called Quiñones into the senior national team in November 2023. He made his debut against Honduras in the Concacaf Nations League after receiving the documentation needed to represent Mexico internationally.
Fun fact: Quiñones once arrived at a youth academy wearing holey shoes, then scored 50 goals in 38 matches at the under-17 level.
Quiñones built his name in Mexican football
Before joining Al-Qadsiah in 2024, Quiñones played in Mexican football with Tigres, Venados, Lobos BUAP, Atlas, and Club América. Ballon d’Or records credit him with six Liga MX championships across those clubs.
His club career also included the 2020 Concacaf Champions League with Tigres. Quiñones later helped Atlas win consecutive Liga MX championships in Apertura 2021 and Clausura 2022 before joining Club América.
Quiñones keeps scoring for Al-Qadsiah
Quiñones resumed his Al-Qadsiah career for the 2026-27 Saudi Pro League season after the World Cup. By September 2026, Ballon d’Or records credited him with 63 goals in 72 appearances.
His current Ballon d’Or profile lists 7 Saudi Pro League appearances, 3 goals, and 1 assist for the season. Al-Qadsiah defeated Al-Ahli 3-2 on September 8, although Quiñones did not score in the match.
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Do you think Julián Quiñones’ Ballon d’Or nomination reflects a lasting rise for Mexican football, or was his 2026 season simply exceptional? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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