The Historic List Julián Quiñones Joins After His Goal Against South Africa

Mexico made history by defeating South Africa at the Estadio Azteca during the World Cup opening match. El Tri finally achieved a victory in a tournament opener for the first time in its history and started the celebration at home. The first goalscorer, Julián Quiñones, sent the Coloso de Santa Úrsula into a frenzy with a great finish, following a perfect recovery by Erik Lira.

His goal, besides giving El Tri the lead, placed him in a select group of players who have had the honor of scoring the first goal of a World Cup.

Quiñones Joins A List Full Of Historic Names

In 2022, Enner Valencia opened the scoring in Ecuador’s 2-0 victory over the host nation. At Russia 2018, Yury Gazinsky was responsible for opening the tournament in the hosts’ win over Saudi Arabia. At Brazil 2014, Marcelo scored the first goal, although it was an own goal; in the end, the Brazilians came from behind against Croatia to secure the victory.

In 2010, Tshabalala appeared with a stunning goal and an iconic celebration. Now, in this World Cup rematch against South Africa, Julián Quiñones took center stage and brought another unforgettable moment. In 2006, it was Philipp Lahm who opened the tournament with a spectacular goal against Costa Rica. In 2002, one of the most memorable goals belonged to Papa Bouba Diop, as Senegal shocked the world by defeating defending champions France. In 1998, César Sampaio opened the French tournament with a goal against Scotland.

In 1994, Jürgen Klinsmann opened the United States World Cup after a major mistake by the Bolivian goalkeeper. In 1990, another historic goal arrived: François Omam-Biyik rose above everyone in Italy to beat Nery Pumpido, who also made an error, and give Cameroon a historic victory over world champions Argentina.

The Opening Goals That Made World Cup History

At Mexico 1986, Alessandro Altobelli opened the Mexican World Cup by beating Borislav Mihailov at the Estadio Azteca. In 1982, a defending champion fell once again: Argentina lost to Belgium, and the player responsible for the opening goal was Erwin Vandenbergh.

In 1978, Bernard Lacombe was the first to score, although there was a curious detail: the official opening match between West Germany and Poland ended goalless. It was not until the second match that Lacombe opened the scoring in France’s defeat against Italy.

In 1974, Paul Breitner scored against Chile. The German also holds the privilege of having scored in that tournament’s final, becoming one of the few players capable of scoring both at the beginning and the end of a World Cup.

In 1970, there was also a goalless opening match. It was during the game between Peru and Bulgaria that Dinko Dermendzhiev opened the scoring for the first World Cup held in Mexico. Unlike this tournament, that goal was not scored at the Azteca, but at the Nou Camp in León.

At England 1966, it was Pelé who opened the British World Cup. In 1962, it was Héctor Facundo of Argentina; in 1958, another Argentine, Oreste Corbatta, had that honor. In 1954, it was Yugoslav Miloš Milutinović, while in 1950, Ademir opened the World Cup in Brazil, a tournament that would end in tragedy with the historic Maracanazo.

In 1938, Josef Gauchel opened the French World Cup. In 1934, Ernesto Belis of Argentina scored the tournament’s first goal, while the first goal in World Cup history was scored by Frenchman Lucien Laurent, in France’s 4-1 victory over Mexico.

Almost a century later, Mexico had the honor of opening the scoring at home, and Julián Quiñones entered a list reserved for very few: the players who wrote the first page of a World Cup.