Colombia Goalscorer Recalls Hitchhiking to Watch Games as a Child

The story of Daniel Muñoz, who scored Colombia's opening goal in their 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan at the World Cup finals, is worthy of a film, according to "El Colombiano" newspaper. "For as long as I can remember, I've been a die-hard fan of Atlético Nacional because of my parents," says the Crystal Palace right-back. He followed the team everywhere, hitchhiking weekly in trucks across various parts of Colombia to support them from the stands, as he couldn't afford bus fare. Muñoz had a difficult childhood, growing up in the Cosmos academy, which also produced James Rodríguez and Juanfer Quintero. His family entrusted him to a businessman who sought to profit from the young player.

"I allowed myself to be tempted by someone who lured me into playing abroad. I was very young and went through Mexico, Spain, and Italy. As I was underage, I didn't have a professional contract and endured two very difficult years," the defender told the newspaper. He made his professional debut for Águilas Doradas at the age of 21, and his temperament caught the attention of his beloved team, Atlético Nacional. In 2019, he fulfilled his dream, beginning to play at the Atanasio Girardot stadium, where he had been thousands of times as a fan. In Europe, he moved through Belgian club Genk before joining Crystal Palace and establishing himself as a starter for Colombia. "I've been in the stands, I know how the fans feel," Daniel Muñoz reiterates. Today, he brings joy to 50 million Colombians, not just as an elite athlete, but as the boy who couldn't afford a bus ticket and cheered his lungs out for his idols in the stadium.