QUINONES@AlQadsiahEn
Alejandro Orellana

Julián Quiñones moves ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo with hat trick as Al Qadsiah close in on Saudi Pro League lead

Julián Quiñones has moved past Cristiano Ronaldo in the Saudi Pro League scoring race after netting a hat trick against NEOM SC. The naturalized Mexican forward now has six goals through five matches, one more than the Al Nassr captain. Al Qadsiah sit second in the table with 13 points, two behind Ronaldo’s side.

  • QUINONES@AlQadsiahEn

    Quiñones thriving in Saudi Arabia

    Quiñones' impact in the Saudi Pro League has been undeniable. In just 40 league appearances, the Colombian-born Mexican has tallied 32 goals and eight assists, becoming a key figure in Al Qadsiah’s attack.

    His consistency has earned praise from local media, where he’s regarded as one of the league’s top foreign players. In Mexico, however, debate continues over his place in the national team. Despite his club form, Quiñones has struggled to replicate that success for El Tri, scoring just twice in 18 appearances since his 2023 debut.

    Arab outlets Alyaum and Fil Marma credited him as the driving force behind Al Qadsiah’s strong start this season.

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    World Cup spot remains uncertain

    Recent call-ups under national team coach Javier Aguirre haven’t fully convinced fans or analysts, with some suggesting Quiñones doesn’t fully fit the coach’s tactical approach. Even so, there have been glimpses of chemistry - particularly his link-up with Germán Berterame in the recent draw against Ecuador.

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    Rising through Liga MX

    Before making the jump to Saudi Arabia, Quiñones was one of Liga MX's most prolific strikers. He scored 64 goals in 172 appearances in the league, starring for teams like  Tigres and America. 

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    'Mentality is everything'

    Following his latest hat-trick, Quiñones shared a short but telling message on social media: “Mentality is everything.”

    For now, his club numbers speak for themselves. Whether that momentum earns him another look from Aguirre will become clear in November, when Mexico face Uruguay and Paraguay during the final FIFA window of the year.