Not many players have managed to outscore Cristiano Ronaldo in the Saudi Pro League. Julian Quinones did exactly that in the 2025-26 season. And on Thursday night, the Mexican striker carried that form onto football’s biggest stage, scripting a piece of FIFA World Cup history.The 29-year-old forward, who netted 33 goals in 31 league games for Al Qadsiah — five more than Ronaldo’s tally of 28 goals in 30 matches for Al Nassr — scored the opening goal of the FIFA World Cup 2026 as Mexico defeated South Africa 2-0 in front of a packed Estadio Azteca.More significantly, Quinones became the first player from a CONCACAF nation to score the opening goal of a World Cup tournament.
Historic strike sparks Azteca celebrations
With 80,000 fans creating a deafening atmosphere in Mexico City, the co-hosts struck in just the ninth minute. South African goalkeeper Ronwen Williams attempted to play out from the back, but a misplaced pass and poor control from Sithole allowed Erik Lira to win possession and feed Quinones.The Al Qadsiah star needed no second invitation. From the edge of the box, he unleashed a powerful effort that squeezed through Williams’ legs and into the net, sending the iconic stadium into raptures.It was the earliest opening goal of a World Cup since Philipp Lahm scored for Germany after six minutes against Costa Rica in 2006.While France’s Lucien Laurent remains the first player to score in a World Cup match, having done so against Mexico in 1930, Quinones added his own chapter to the tournament’s rich history. In the previous edition in Qatar in 2022, Ecuador captain Enner Valencia had scored the competition’s first goal against hosts Qatar.
Mexico overpower South Africa
Quinones remained Mexico’s biggest threat throughout the opening half, even striking the post, before veteran striker Raul Jimenez doubled the advantage in the 67th minute with a powerful header in his fourth World Cup appearance.South Africa’s task became increasingly difficult after Sithole was sent off early in the second half. Matters worsened when Zwane received another red card in the 83rd minute, reducing the visitors to nine men. Mexico also had a player dismissed in stoppage time, making it a match that produced three red cards.The victory extended Mexico’s remarkable dominance over African opposition to 22 consecutive wins across all competitions, with their last defeat against an African side coming against the same opponents in the 2005 Gold Cup.It was also the 20th World Cup match hosted at the iconic Estadio Azteca — the most by any stadium in tournament history — and Mexico ensured the famous venue witnessed yet another memorable night.For Quinones, though, this was a stage worthy of his growing reputation. First, he finished above Cristiano Ronaldo in the Saudi scoring charts. Now, he has become the man who opened the scoring at the 2026 FIFA World Cup — a feat no player from the CONCACAF region had ever achieved before.
