Juan Fernando Quintero

Juan Fernando Quintero
Quintero with Rennes in 2016
Personal information
Full name Juan Fernando Quintero Paniagua
Date of birth (1993-01-18) 18 January 1993
Place of birth Medellín, Colombia
Height 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Position(s)
Team information
Current team
River Plate
Number 10
Youth career
2004–2008 Envigado
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2011 Envigado 43 (5)
2011–2012 Atlético Nacional 15 (2)
2012–2013 Pescara 17 (1)
2013–2019 Porto 42 (6)
2015–2016Rennes (loan) 12 (1)
2017–2018Independiente Medellín (loan) 25 (13)
2018–2019River Plate (loan) 32 (2)
2019–2020 River Plate 21 (6)
2021–2022 Shenzhen FC 21 (1)
2022 River Plate 29 (5)
2023 Atlético Junior 6 (1)
2023–2024 Racing 41 (10)
2025 América de Cali 14 (3)
2025– River Plate 13 (1)
International career
2013 Colombia U20 13 (8)
2016 Colombia U23 4 (2)
2012– Colombia 45 (6)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Colombia
Copa América
Runner-up 2024 United States
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17:19, 9 December 2025 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 14 October 2025

Juan Fernando Quintero Paniagua, better known as Juanfer Quintero, (born 18 January 1993) is a Colombian professional footballer who plays as attacking midfielder or winger for Argentine Primera División club River Plate and the Colombia national team.

Quintero first received attention at age 19 due to his performances in the 2013 South American Youth Championship, where Colombia won the title. He was named the tournament's MVP with five goals and four assists; shortly after he was recognized as one of the most promising youth prospects in South America and the world.

After beginning his career in Colombia with Envigado and Atlético Nacional, Quintero moved to Europe with Pescara in 2012 and Porto in 2013, where he won the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira in 2013. He later spent loan spells with Rennes in France and Independiente Medellín in Colombia. In 2017, he joined River Plate, initially on loan and then permanently, winning the Supercopa Argentina in 2017, the Copa Libertadores in 2018—scoring a decisive extra-time goal in the final against Boca Juniors—and the Copa Argentina in 2019. He moved to China with Shenzhen FC in 2021, before returning to River in 2022. In 2023, he signed for Atlético Junior and later moved to Racing Club, winning the Copa Sudamericana in 2024. In 2025, he joined América de Cali before returning once again to River Plate.

At youth level, Quintero won the South American Youth Championship in 2013, where he was named Most Valuable Player, and also took part in the 2013 U-20 World Cup, where he gained more praise for his talents after making a huge impact in the tournament. He made his senior debut for the Colombia in 2012 and went on to represent Colombia in the 2014 World Cup, where he scored his first world cup goal against Ivory Coast. In the 2018 FIFA World Cup he scored against Japan, becoming the first Colombian to score in two FIFA World Cup competitions. He later featured at the 2024 Copa América, helping Colombia reach the final where they finished as runners-up to Argentina.