The China Mail - Julian Quinones, Mexico's not-so-secret World Cup weapon

A few weeks ago, England could have been forgiven for ignoring the threat from 29-year-old Quinones, whose entire career was spent at Mexican clubs until he joined Saudi outfit Al-Qadsiah in 2024.

In the 2025-2026 Saudi Pro League season, Quinones was top scorer with 33 goals, one ahead of England's Ivan Toney, who will be on the bench for the keenly-awaited game at the Estadio Azteca.

He announced himself to the wider world by smashing in the opening goal of this World Cup as Mexico dominated South Africa 2-0 at the Azteca in the tournament curtainraiser.

He has since added two more goals, one in the win against the Czech Republic and another against Ecuador, when he was man of the match again.

On Sunday, the left-sided attacker could well be the main threat for Mexico down England's injury-depleted right flank.

Quinones, originally from the humble town of Magui Payan in southwest Colombia, is one of eight naturalized players who have played at least one World Cup match in Mexico's history.

Such a label in Mexico traditionally comes with fierce criticism, high expectations, and constant scrutiny, but Quinones has won over his adopted country.

His goal against South Africa not only cemented his bond with the Mexican fans, but also relieved the pressure that other naturalized players have endured when called up by El Tri for a World Cup.

"Both the naturalized players and those born in Mexico want the same thing: for this national team to grow," Quinones said in 2024, when coach Javier Aguirre's tenure was just beginning.

Before obtaining Mexican citizenship and making his debut for the national team in 2023, Quinones had to deal with harsh criticism.

Former Chilean footballer and television commentator Fabian Estay, for example, called Quinones an "opportunist" and claimed that "he would struggle to play (even) for Colombia."

- Others have failed -

Quinones is enjoying a love affair with the Mexican fans that other naturalized players never had. Rogelio Funes Mori, Argentinian by birth, was the last naturalized player to take part in a World Cup with El Tri, in Qatar four years ago.

"I'll always be criticized, and I understand that, because from the very first moment I wanted to be on the national team I knew it would be like this," said Funes Mori.

Funes Mori debuted for Mexico in 2021 and made it to the World Cup in Qatar, where he didn't receive enough playing time to make a difference.

Years earlier, Guillermo Franco, also an Argentine striker, had the opportunity to play in two World Cups with Mexico, in Germany and South Africa, but failed to earn the trust of Mexican fans, who rejected him in 2010 because he was competing for a place with the emerging Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez.

"The patriotism or nationalism that Mexicans have is absurd," said Franco, who had been an idol at the Rayados de Monterrey club.

- Aguirre's confidence -

Quinones made his debut for Mexico in November 2023 during the unsuccessful tenure of former Mexico coach Jaime Lozano.

When Aguirre took over in August 2024, the powerfully built striker had already established himself in the Mexican league with six league titles, a record for a player not born in Mexico.

The son of immigrants, Aguirre is a coach who is open to contributions from any Mexican footballer, whether Mexican by birth or by naturalization.

"My father became a naturalized Mexican citizen," Aguirre said, adding that therefore he could have no objection to "people coming to this country to earn a living."

Aguirre's faith in Quinones, who he uses on the left side of his attack, has been handsomely rewarded.

"Playing out wide he's very comfortable," he said.

A.Sun--ThChM