Career Timeline of Julián Quiñones: Major Achievements and Milestones

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 12, 2026

Discover the career path of Julián Quiñones, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Julián Quiñones is a prominent professional footballer, widely recognized for his impactful career in Liga MX. A versatile forward known for his physicality, clinical finishing, and technical prowess, he has played a pivotal role in multiple championship-winning campaigns for clubs such as Tigres UANL, Atlas, and Club América. His back-to-back title success with Atlas and later achievements with América solidified his reputation as one of the most dangerous attackers in Mexican football. Born in Colombia, Quiñones eventually became a naturalized Mexican citizen, leading to his debut with the Mexico national team. His combination of strength, agility, and big-game temperament makes him a consistent threat in front of goal and a highly influential player in domestic and international competition.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

2014: Recruitment by Tigres UANL

During the 2014–15 season, Julián Quiñones displayed exceptional performance at the Futbol Paz academy in Cali, Colombia, by scoring 50 goals in 38 matches, which led to his recruitment by the Tigres UANL under-20 team in 2014.

January 2016: Professional Debut with Venados

On 19 January 2016, Julián Quiñones made his professional football debut while on loan with the Ascenso MX club Venados, marking the occasion by scoring two goals in a Copa MX match against Cruz Azul.

June 2017: Loan transfer to Lobos BUAP

In June 2017, Julián Quiñones officially joined the football club Lobos BUAP on a one-year loan agreement.

2017: 2017 South American U-20 Championship Participation

In 2017, Julián Quiñones represented the Colombian youth national team during the 2017 South American U-20 Championship.

2018: Clausura 2018 goal scoring performance

During the 2018 Clausura tournament, Julián Quiñones maintained his strong form by scoring eight goals for his team.

2018: Return to Tigres UANL

In 2018, Julián Quiñones returned to the club Tigres UANL for the Apertura 2018 tournament, although he struggled to secure a regular starting spot under head coach Ricardo Ferretti despite his prior success with Lobos BUAP.

2018: 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games

Julián Quiñones continued his international youth career in 2018 by representing Colombia at the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games.

June 2021: Transfer to Atlas FC

In June 2021, professional footballer Julián Quiñones officially joined the Mexican club Atlas on a one-year loan deal, marking a new chapter in his career.

May 2023: Declining Colombia National Team Call-up

In May 2023, Julián Quiñones made the decision to decline a call-up to the senior Colombia national team, having resided in Mexico since he was 17 years old.

July 2023: Transfer to Club América

In July 2023, Club América successfully finalized an agreement with Atlas to secure the transfer of Julián Quiñones, marking a significant move in his professional football career.

September 2023: Mexico National Team Training Camp

In September 2023, Julián Quiñones participated in the Mexico national team's training camp after announcing his decision to represent Mexico internationally.

March 2024: First International Goal for Mexico

On 21 March 2024, Julián Quiñones scored his debut goal for the Mexico national team during a CONCACAF Nations League semi-final match against Panama, helping secure a 3-0 victory.

June 2024: Transfer to Al-Qadsiah

In June 2024, Julián Quiñones finalized a transfer to the Saudi Pro League club Al-Qadsiah for a reported fee of $16 million. This transaction established a record as the most expensive player sale in the history of Mexican club football.

2025: 2025–26 Season Performance

During the 2025 season and continuing into 2026, Quiñones showcased stellar performance, capped off by a hat-trick in a 5–1 victory against Al-Ittihad in May 2026.

May 2026: League Top Scorer Achievement

In May 2026, Julián Quiñones concluded the 2025–26 football season as the league's top scorer with a total of 33 goals, surpassing Ivan Toney on the final day of the competition.

June 2026: Julián Quiñones at the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Throughout June 2026, Julián Quiñones represented Mexico in the FIFA World Cup. He scored the opening goal in a 2–0 win against South Africa on June 11, 2026, earning Man of the Match honors. He continued his scoring streak by netting the opener against Ecuador in the round of 32 and scoring in a 2–3 loss against England in the round of 16, ultimately finishing the tournament with four goals to match the Mexican record held by Luis and Javier Hernández.