Read 3 minutes18 Jun 2026 01:56 PM IST
Anyone from Bengal knows about Amalfi, a town of less than 30,000 people nestled in the Colombian Andes. However, if you visit the mayor’s office of the municipality of Amalfi, you will be able to establish a connection with Bengal.
A photograph of a Royal Bengal Tiger is prominently displayed. Statues of animals are standing all over the city. Legend has it that around 1949, this beast terrorized the region and devoured more than a thousand head of cattle.
Desperate, the five decided to hunt the tiger and were successful. Historians later revealed that the animal was not a Royal Bengal Tiger but an American Jaguar. But try telling that to the residents of Amalfi, who until then believed they had the power to match a tiger.
Among those symbolic tigers of Amalfi, the one that roared the loudest on Wednesday was Daniel Muñoz.
For 40 minutes, Uzbekistan gave little to suggest they were making their debut at football’s highest level. Their defensive record in the AFC qualifiers was bettered only by Japan and the statistics proved true when Fabio Cannavaro’s five-man defense thwarted almost all of Colombia’s first-half attacks in Mexico City. Until the moment of brilliance.
Munoz, true to his role on the right, was fourth among the Colombians advancing towards the Uzbek goal when Luis Diaz received the ball on the right. By the time his flighted delivery reached the box, Munoz was unmarked, and it went past a helpless Utkir Yusupov. By then the reigning centre-back Rustamjon Ashurmatov could not believe what hit him and how fast it came.
Munoz’s acceleration, however, was not a fair depiction of his journey. By 20, he did not have a professional contract. In four countries, he trialed at more than 10 clubs. He failed on every occasion. With his former teammates establishing themselves in the Colombian league or elsewhere, Munoz, then 18, seemed like the logical conclusion at the time. Football, he felt, was not for him. He called his mother and informed her of his decision to apply for a work visa in the USA. It was rejected.
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Against the odds
This time, rejection turned out to be a boon. With the American dream unfulfilled, Munoz had no choice but to play football, as employment opportunities at home were scarce. Two years later, a team in Colombia’s third division, Total Soccer, deemed him worthy of a chance. He just wanted one more chance.
Within a year, he signed for Aguilas Doradas in the top flight and then grew up supporting Atlético Nacional. The first European break came in Genk, where his performances caught the attention of Crystal Palace scouts. In his first full season in England, Munoz helped deliver the Eagles’ first FA Cup. A season later came the UEFA Conference League.
In the 2024/25 Premier League, no full-back attempted more sprints per 90 minutes than Munoz, nor did any player cover more distance at high intensity. According to his former manager, Oliver Glasner, nobody runs much during Crystal Palace training sessions. Munoz runs as he is told. And at 30, he’s just getting started.