Right-back Daniel Munoz played a decisive role in Colombia’s advancement to the Round of 32 at the World Cup, scoring the lone goal in a 1-0 victory over DR Congo on Tuesday. His late strike not only secured the win but also ensured Colombia’s progression in the tournament.
Munoz, who plays for Crystal Palace in the English Premier League, was not initially credited with an early goal after a VAR review led Italian referee Maurizio Mariani to rule the effort offside in the eighth minute. The breakthrough came nearly 70 minutes later when Munoz capitalized on a precise pass from Juan Fernando Quintero, successfully navigating past DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi to find the net.
Despite earning the Player of the Match award, Munoz emphasized a collective effort from the team. “Just because I scored the goal doesn’t mean I’m the star. We’re all the stars. We all earned these three points. This is a family, and here, the star is Colombia,” he said after the match. He underscored the team’s hard work, adding, “Nothing is easy; nobody is getting anything for free.”
This was not Munoz’s first significant contribution in the tournament. In Colombia’s opening match against Uzbekistan, he opened the scoring in the 40th minute, leading to a 3-1 victory. The defender has demonstrated a knack for scoring at the international level; during the 2024 Copa America, where Colombia finished as runners-up, Munoz was one of the country’s top scorers with two goals. His tally now stands at five goals in 46 international appearances.
Known for his pace and attacking capabilities on the right flank, Munoz combines goal-scoring ability with creative playmaking. While at Belgian club Genk, where he spent four seasons, he recorded 19 goals and 20 assists. Since his transfer to Crystal Palace in 2023, he has continued that form, scoring 11 goals and registering 16 assists.
Colombia will look to build on this momentum as they advance further in the tournament, with Munoz’s contributions highlighting a balanced and dynamic squad effort.