Quinones was born in Magui Payan in southern Colombia, near the Ecuadorian border, and grew up with limited means.
He has described his hometown as a remote, often overlooked village.
The challenges he faced early on fuel his determination to fight for every ball and give his best in every match, not only for himself but for his family.
At 17, he left the amateur side Futbol Paz to join Tigres in Mexico.
He remembers hesitating as a teenager about leaving Colombia to pursue new opportunities and goals.
Over time, Mexico began to feel like home; he married a Mexican woman and started a family there.
He spent eight years in the country with Tigres, Atlas, and Club America, along with three loan spells.
Although he represented Colombia at youth level in 2017 and 2018, no senior call came while he was scoring more than 70 goals in Mexico’s top division.
By the time Colombia contacted him in 2023, he had become eligible to represent Mexico through naturalization and chose to join their squad.
He says he found Mexico generous and welcoming, a place that helped him stand out and grow personally, and he remains deeply grateful.
He adds that Mexico shaped him as a person; despite not always making the wisest choices when he was younger and having mixed experiences in Colombia, Mexico embraced him through highs and lows and taught him a great deal.
He won six Mexican league titles—two with each of his permanent clubs—benefiting from the league’s format, which crowns two champions each year.