Mexico forward Julian Quinones has openly criticised national team coach Javier Aguirre, saying “the old man messed up the substitutions” after being taken off in the closing stages of their World Cup last‐16 defeat by England.
The 29-year-old Al-Qadisiyah striker was substituted in the 81st minute of Mexico’s 3-2 loss, a decision that has triggered intense debate among fans and pundits in Mexico and beyond.
Quinones, who scored Mexico’s opening goal in the match, was replaced by forward Guillermo Martinez despite being one of the side’s most dangerous players throughout the tournament.
The round-of-16 tie ended Mexico’s World Cup campaign and sparked a wider argument about Aguirre’s in-game management in a match many felt was within Mexico’s reach.
‘The old man messed up the substitutions’
Quinones’ remarks surfaced in a video shared on his Instagram account, where he was filmed speaking with his tattoo artist about the England match.
Recalling the moment he saw his number go up on the substitution board, Quinones said, according to ESPN: “Oh yes.. the old man messed up the substitutions.”
The comment, quickly picked up by Mexican and international media, has intensified scrutiny on Aguirre, one of Mexico’s most experienced managers, and raised questions about dressing-room harmony following the World Cup exit.
The substitution in the 81st minute was widely criticised by supporters, who argued that removing Quinones – a constant threat in attack and one of Mexico’s standout performers – blunted the team just as they were pushing to stay in the tournament.
Record-equalling World Cup for Quinones
Despite the bitter end, Quinones completed the 2026 World Cup as one of Mexico’s brightest stars.
He finished the tournament with four goals, matching the national team’s all-time World Cup scoring record jointly held by Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez and Luis Hernandez.
In addition to his goals, Quinones provided one assist, meaning he was directly involved in five goals during the competition – a contribution that underlined his importance to Aguirre’s side.
His performances have cemented his status as a key figure for Mexico going forward, having only recently broken into the national team set-up and featuring in his first World Cup.
Pride despite painful exit
Although clearly frustrated by the manner of Mexico’s elimination and his late substitution, Quinones insisted he leaves the tournament with pride over what he and his team achieved.
He highlighted the connection with Mexican supporters and the atmosphere surrounding the national team throughout the World Cup.
“كنت متحمسا للغاية باللعب للمنتخب؛ كانت الاجواء جنونية لدرجة اننا لم نكن نستطيع السير في المطار,” he said.
Translated, the forward expressed how excited he had been to represent Mexico and described the scenes around the team as “crazy”, saying the players could barely walk through the airport because of the fan reaction.
For many Mexican fans, Quinones’ emergence as a record-equalling World Cup scorer is a major positive from a campaign that ended earlier than they had hoped. But his sharp public criticism of Aguirre’s decisions ensures the fallout from the defeat by England is unlikely to fade quickly.
