Golden Boot to global glow: Quinones to light up FIFA World Cup kick-off | OneFootball

Julian Quinones arrives at the 2026 FIFA World Cup as one of the most in-form of the 1,248 players registered for football’s showpiece event.

The Mexico sharpshooter has enjoyed a superb season in the Roshn Saudi League, his 33 goals firing Al Qadsiah to a fourth-placed finish and, more importantly where his national team are concerned, propelled the striker to the 2025-26 RSL golden boot.

There was the league-high 14 Man of the Match awards, too, a haul that led to Quinones being voted the Fans' Player of the Season.

It was a hat-trick, on the campaign's final day at then-reigning champions Al Ittihad, that ensured he sealed both individual awards. Going into the closing round two goals behind Al Ahli’s Ivan Toney, Quinones' anointment as the division’s master marksman felt unlikely.

Then he struck two goals in a minute just before half-time, added another not long after the hour, and a first RSL golden boot was his. Right at the death, Toney had been pipped at the post. Cristiano Ronaldo, winner of the past two top-striker awards and third this time, was outdone, too.

While all three will attempt to now transport their club form to the sport’s grandest stage across the next five weeks or so, Quinones has the opportunity to make his mark, just like where he finished in the 2025-26 goal ranking, first.

On Thursday night, at the revered and renovated Estadio Azteca, co-hosts Mexico kick off the latest World Cup in front of an expected 81,000 in the stadium and millions watching around the world.

And there, should he be selected, Quinones will represent both his national team and the RSL, which boasts the largest contingent of players at the global finals outside the game’s traditional “Big Five” leagues.

For sure, his 2025-26 RSL performance merits it. Quinones averaged a goal every 83 minutes, while every 1.8 of shots on target found the net. In fact, his 136 shots in total ranked second in the division, behind only Ronaldo.

He also created 10 “Big Chances” for teammates. For a forward who often started out wide, these key stats represent a remarkable return. Unequivocally, Quinones was a sure-fire RSL standout.

His output certainly wasn’t lost on the Al Qadsiah hierarchy - he signed a new contract right before setting off for Mexico - or Brendan Rodgers, his celebrated club manager.

“We were able to help Julian be the top goalscorer, and he knows more than anyone that he could not do that without his teammates,” the former Liverpool and Celtic tactician said.

“But it’s an incredible achievement considering he hardly takes any penalties [two of his 33 RSL goals came from the spot], but also what else he gives the team, in terms of pressing, commitment, running.”

It’s those traits that Mexico hope Quinones brings to their bid to emerge from a Group A containing South Africa, South Korea and Czechia.

You'd imagine, of course, Quinones won't take the responsibility lightly. Speaking recently to the SPL, he described representing his country at the World Cup as “most important”. And that came before his confirmation as the 2025-26 RSL's golden boot.

“It’s a result of that, for so many years, I've been fighting to be in the big leagues,” Quinones said upon clinching the league honour. “I have shown it day by day; I work with more work.

“I dedicate this to all the people who never doubted me. To all my coaches who supported me. To my family. To all those people who have always been there in the worst moments of my career.”

On the contrary, Thursday appears poised to offer Quinones, red-hot and resolute, one of his finest moments to date.