Julián Quiñones stars for Mexico with 3 goals in 4 World Cup games as crypto brands circle the tournament

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has its first breakout star, and he wasn’t even born in the country he’s representing. Julián Quiñones, a Colombian-born forward playing for Saudi Pro League club Al-Qadsiah, has netted three goals in four World Cup appearances for Mexico, establishing himself as El Tri’s most dangerous offensive weapon.

Quiñones scored the opening goal of the entire 2026 World Cup in the 9th minute against South Africa on June 11, 2026.

From Liga MX to the world’s biggest stage

Mexico rode that early momentum to a 2-0 victory over South Africa in their opener. Then, on June 24, Quiñones added to his tally in a convincing 3-0 demolition of Czechia.

Quiñones, born in 1997 in Colombia, built his reputation through Liga MX with Atlas before making the leap to Saudi Arabia’s Pro League.

Both Quiñones and teammate Roberto Alvarado have been categorized among the top 100 players of the 2026 World Cup group stage.

Crypto brands see their opening

Kraken, Chiliz, and Avalanche are among the crypto brands leveraging the tournament to promote their products, with a particular focus on fan tokens and digital collectibles.

There has been no direct correlation between Quiñones’ performances and any spikes in cryptocurrency valuations.

What this means for crypto investors watching the World Cup

Fan tokens surged in popularity during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, only to see interest evaporate once the final whistle blew.

Investors would be wise to evaluate the actual on-chain activity and user engagement metrics of platforms like Chiliz rather than relying on brand visibility as a proxy for growth.

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