AGENCIES

When Colombia needed a hero against DR Congo, few expected it to be Daniel Munoz. Yet on a tense night where the spotlight shone brightest on Luis Diaz and James Rodriguez, it was the relentless right-back who delivered the decisive moment, scoring a late winner to secure a 1-0 victory and send Los Cafeteros into the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32.

The Crystal Palace defender thought he had opened the scoring after just eight minutes, only for a VAR review to rule the effort offside. For much of the match, DR Congo goalkeeper Lionnel Mpasi and his determined defense frustrated Colombia’s attack.

But with the game drifting toward a stalemate, Juan Fernando Quintero produced a moment of brilliance, threading a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Munoz. The defender surged forward and calmly finished, finally breaking Congo’s resistance and sparking celebrations among the Colombian faithful.

Despite being named player of the match, Munoz refused to take individual credit.

“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.

“The effort of the entire team deserves recognition. Nothing is easy; nobody is getting anything for free.”

The goal continued an impressive run for the 28-year-old, who also opened the scoring in Colombia’s 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan earlier in the tournament. His knack for arriving in dangerous positions has become a hallmark of his game, despite spending most of his career as a defender.

Born in Amalfi, Antioquia, Muñoz took a long road to the top. After developing at Rionegro Aguilas and later starring for Atletico Nacional, he earned a move to Belgian side Genk, where his attacking instincts flourished. Across four seasons in Belgium, he registered 19 goals and 20 assists, establishing himself as one of the league’s most dynamic full-backs.

His form earned a transfer to Crystal Palace, where he quickly became a key figure. Under Oliver Glasner, Munoz has combined aggressive defending with attacking quality, helping Palace’s resurgence in England.

The defender’s influence extends to the national team as well. He scored twice during Colombia’s run to the 2024 Copa America final and now has five international goals in 46 appearances. Against DR Congo, he once again proved that while Colombia’s stars grab headlines, Daniel Munoz has a habit of deciding matches when it matters most.