'We're all stars': Colombia hero Daniel Munoz plays down individual performances

[p]While all eyes were on [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/bayern-munich/nVp0wiqd/"]Bayern Munich[/a] winger [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/diaz-luis/SKjMUHVm/"]Luis ‌Diaz[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/minnesota-united/zXFxsw2a/"]Minnesota United[/a] midfielder [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rodriguez-james/MPaioN57/"]James Rodriguez[/a], it was [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/munoz-daniel/4vZVW6Ur/"]‌Munoz[/a] who stepped up to give [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/colombia/G02s4PCS/"]Colombia[/a] a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/colombia-G02s4PCS/d-r-congo-phn9mm8H/?mid=K0YnEaMq"]1-0 win[/a] over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/d-r-congo/phn9mm8H/"]‌D.R. Congo[/a], adding to his goal in Colombia's victory against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/uzbekistan/EZYKKRMc/"]‌Uzbekistan[/a].[/p][p]The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/crystal-palace/AovF1Mia/"]Crystal Palace[/a] player initially put the ball in DR Congo's net in the eighth minute. Still, after a VAR review, Italian referee ‌Maurizio Mariani ruled him offside and disallowed the ⁠goal.[/p][p]Nearly 70 minutes passed ‌before a superb pass from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/quintero-juan/SQPKfPk1/"]Juan Fernando Quintero[/a] reached Munoz who finally ​broke through the resolute defense put up by goalkeeper [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mpasi-nzau-lionel/pzX674k0/"]Lionnel Mpasi[/a].[/p][p]After being named Player of the Match, Munoz ​sought to temper the well-deserved accolades.[/p][p][b]"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,"[/b] Munoz said after the match.[/p][p]"The effort of the entire team deserves recognition. Nothing is easy; nobody is getting anything for free," ‌he said.[/p][image alt="Match stats" id="13a76e75-b505-4b39-9426-b1fb3e1af82d" credit-line="StatsPerform via Opta" guid="9789ebae-f41c-4775-8266-8f02a39ea0e1" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]In Colombia's first match last week, Munoz paved the way to victory by slipping into the Uzbekistan penalty area in the 40th minute to score the opening goal of a contest that ended 3-1.[/p][p]The defender already knows what it is like to score for the national team. In the 2024 Copa America, where Colombia finished runners-up, he netted two goals to end the tournament as one of Colombia's top goalscorers. ‌Tuesday's goal takes his overall tally to five in 46 appearances.[/p][image alt="Daniel Munoz celebrates with teammates" id="bf8651d9-398e-473d-8b26-7d41024a5d16" credit-line="REUTERS / Raquel Cunha" guid="41f06d88-46e8-4442-bdd4-7749f66c6dcd" original-width="1741" original-height="1203" /][p]A ​fast-paced player, Munoz operates along the right flank and ‌is not only an effective finisher but also a prolific provider. During his four seasons with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/genk/r3jWUIiN/"]Genk[/a] in Belgium, he played in a more offensive role and scored 19 goals and provided 20 assists.[/p][p]Since arriving at Crystal Palace in ⁠the English Premier League ⁠in 2023, Munoz has scored ‌11 goals and provided 16 assists.[/p]