crystal Palace Defender Daniel Munoz will head into Colombia's World Cup clash against Ghana as one of the standout performers of the tournament.
The right-back has already scored twice in the competition, making him Colombia's leading scorer so far, while his all-round performances have established him as one of the best players at the World Cup.
He has also earned praise from Brazilian legend Cafu, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest players to ever hold the position.
talking to espn colombia Before the knockout match, Munoz admitted that the praise of the former Brazil captain meant a lot to him.
"It's an honor for me because he is a reference in my situation," He said.
"It's something that keeps you motivated. You have to take those words with humility and keep working."
Munoz stressed that despite the growing recognition, he is not trying to measure himself against anyone else.
"The truth is that I don't do my work to compete with anyone. I do my work to help my team and, in this case, my national team. I hope to continue to establish myself and bring a lot of happiness to all Colombians."
Crystal Palace teammates reunite
Daniel Munoz will also face a familiar face when Colombia take on Ghana.
Former Crystal Palace teammate Jordan Ayew has also spoken positively about Munoz ahead of the knock-out meeting, and the Colombian was asked about the experienced forward, who shared the dressing room with him during his first six months at Selhurst Park.
“Jordan is a great player. He was someone I spent my first six months with at Crystal Palace.
“He is a huge personality and role model for the Ghanaian people. I think he is the most performing player for his national team.
"This should be recognized and respected. I am always grateful for the way they welcomed me. We got the chance to play many matches together and I will always cherish those memories. I cherish the great moments we spent together."
focus strongly on ghana
Despite Colombia's excellent form, Munoz expects another challenging evening.
“The most important thing is to be very strong defensively and keep an eye on the space behind us,” he explained.
"The best way to deal with this is to control the match itself. If we control the game from beginning to end, it will be difficult for them."
He rejected any suggestion that the knockout stage would be easy.
"It will be an intense match like every match in the World Cup. Now no one will give anything to anyone."
"The most important thing is that we stay united as a group and a family. I think the team that is hungrier in the end will win."
Mahal's star shining on the biggest stage
For Crystal Palace supporters, Munoz's performance was another reminder of the level he has reached.
Having already established himself as one of Oliver Glasner's most important players, the 30-year-old is now staking a strong case as the standout full-back – and one of the standout players overall – at this World Cup.
If Colombia are to continue their impressive performances, Palace's flying right-back is looking increasingly likely to play a key role.
