Reported by Musa Antiketu,| Journalist at Obaland magazine.
Julián Quiñones don enter Mexican football history after dem select am among di 30 footballers wey dey contest for 2026 Ballon d’Or award. Dis one mean say e don become di second player wey represent Mexico wey ever enter di final list of contenders for di biggest individual football award for di world.
Quiñones, wey originally come from Colombia but later become Mexican citizen, don make strong name for football because of im goals and performance for club and country.
For di 2025/26 season, Quiñones show say e get serious scoring power as e dey play for Al-Qadsiah for Saudi Arabia. E score 33 goals for 31 league games, performance wey help am finish as di highest goal scorer for di Saudi league.
Im performance no stop for club level. For Mexico national team, Quiñones also play important role during di 2026 World Cup. E score four goals and provide one assist for five matches, according to reports about im performance for di tournament.
Dis nomination don also bring back memory of Guillermo Ochoa, wey become di first Mexican player to enter di final Ballon d’Or list back in 2007. Almost 20 years later, Quiñones don now join am for di history books.
Wetin make Quiñones own story different na say e no born for Mexico. E born for Magüí Payán for Colombia, but after e become Mexican citizen, e choose to represent Mexico for international football.
Since e start to play for Mexico, e don become important player for di national team, especially for attack. E don also help di country win important competitions, including CONCACAF Nations League and Gold Cup.
For di 2026 Ballon d’Or race, Quiñones go compete alongside plenty big football names from different countries. Some of di players wey dey di list include Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham, Lamine Yamal, Sadio Mané and Ousmane Dembélé.
But making di 30-man list no mean say Quiñones don win di award. Na only say e don enter di group of players wey voters go consider before dem announce di final winner.
Di 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony go hold for London on October 26, 2026, where football fans go know who go carry di prestigious award go house.
Quiñones nomination don also show how football players from different parts of di world dey increasingly get recognition for di highest level of di game. For Mexico, im achievement na another major moment because e don become only di second player from di country to reach dis stage.
Whether Quiñones go win di award or not, e don already write im name inside Mexican football history. From Colombia-born youngster to Mexican international star, im journey don now carry am enter one of di biggest individual football conversations for di world.
Wetin di big media houses report: FOX Sports, UEFA, Sports Illustrated México, Saudi Pro League, Ballon d’Or official platform, AS México and other established football media outlets don report about Quiñones and im 2026 Ballon d’Or nomination.
Julián Quiñones don enter history as di second Mexican player wey ever make di final Ballon d’Or list after im strong season for Saudi Arabia and Mexico national team.