Gate to Paradise: Mexico Celebrates Behind the Opening Goal

"Gate to Paradise." Behind the opening goal, host Mexico is celebrating: "Quiñones sent 130 million people into a frenzy and wrote his name into history." Sport 5, published: 11.06.26, 23:57 (GETTY) | Photo: Sport 5

We have started: right now, the celebration we have waited four years for is taking place, the 2026 World Cup. The player who had the honor of scoring the first goal of the tournament was none other than Julián Quiñones. Erik Lira, who was chosen ahead of Edson Álvarez in the lineup, won the ball and set up the striker, who finished with one touch into the corner past Ronon Williams in the 9th minute, sending 130 million Mexicans into the air.

The local media celebrated the goal. In Olé it was written: "Julián wrote his name into the pages of World Cup history." In Récord they praised him: "Quiñones sent 130 million Mexicans into a frenzy." Team writer Julio Rodríguez said: "It took him only 9 minutes to silence all the criticism he received, he is naturalized, but he chose Mexico!" In Toden it was written: "45 superb minutes from the striker, it looks like he is going to explode at the World Cup, the European clubs are already watching." "Jiménez dedicates the goal to his father and ends his World Cup drought," it was written in Reforma. "This is a goal dedicated to paradise, all the way to heaven. After appearing in the World Cups in Brazil, Russia and Qatar, Raúl Jiménez scored his first World Cup goal, thanks to a superb cross from Roberto Alvarado," they added in Récord.

And note this. Gilberto Mora of Mexico became the sixth youngest player ever to play in a World Cup, at 17 years and 240 days. The first player born in 2006.

Quiñones was actually born in Colombia and became naturalized, and he turned down a call-up to the Colombia national team after "years of neglect," according to him, and is considered a hungry player who looks for goals time after time. "I fight for every ball," he said. He is a modern striker who presses opponents and can play in several attacking positions, and in Javier Aguirre's team he plays on the left side. The Saudi league top scorer finished the season with 29 goals, ahead of, among others, Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema. During the season, he extended his contract with Al Qadisiyah until 2029. This is his first goal for the national team since June 2024, and only his third goal in national colors.

World Cup 2026