Daniel Munoz scored the decisive goal as Colombia defeated DR Congo 1-0 to reach the World Cup Round of 32, but the Crystal Palace defender insists the entire team deserves the credit.
Daniel Munoz was Colombia’s unlikely hero on Tuesday, scoring a late winner that secured a 1-0 victory over DR Congo and booked his nation’s place in the World Cup Round of 32.
While much of the attention before the match centered on stars such as Luis Diaz and James Rodriguez, it was the Crystal Palace defender who delivered the decisive moment.
The right-back thought he had opened the scoring early in the contest when he found the back of the net in the eighth minute. However, after a VAR review, Italian referee Maurizio Mariani ruled that Munoz had strayed offside, and the goal was disallowed.
Daniel Muñoz takes the honours as your @MichelobUltra Superior Player of the Match. ⚽
#FIFAWorldCup #SuperiorPOTM pic.twitter.com/uYeo8L0vTN
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 24, 2026
Colombia continued to push for a breakthrough but found themselves frustrated by a determined DR Congo side and an impressive display from goalkeeper Lionnel Mpasi. As the game entered its closing stages, the South Americans remained patient in search of a winning goal.
That breakthrough finally arrived when Juan Fernando Quintero produced a perfectly weighted pass that released Munoz down the right side. The defender made no mistake, calmly finishing to secure all three points and send Colombia into the knockout rounds.
Despite earning the Player of the Match award, Munoz was quick to reject suggestions that he was the team’s standout performer. Instead, he chose to focus on the collective effort that guided Colombia to victory.
“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,” Munoz said after the match. He added that every player deserved recognition for their commitment and hard work throughout the contest.
🇨🇴 Colombia have qualified for the Round of 32!#FIFAWorldCup
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 24, 2026
The goal continued an impressive run of form for the defender, who also scored in Colombia’s opening World Cup victory over Uzbekistan.
In that match, Munoz broke the deadlock before Colombia went on to secure a convincing 3-1 win, highlighting his growing influence in the national team setup.
Munoz is no stranger to making an impact in front of goal. He scored twice during Colombia’s run to the Copa America final in 2024 and now has five goals in 46 appearances for his country.
Known for his pace and attacking instincts, the former Genk player has also contributed 11 goals and 16 assists since joining Crystal Palace in 2023, underlining why he remains one of Colombia’s most valuable and versatile performers.
