Araujo netted in the seventh minute of injury time to keep the Hoops in title contention
22:00, 15 Feb 2026Updated 16:32, 16 Feb 2026
Julian Araujo celebrates his dramatic winner(Image: SNS Group)
Julian Araujo sparked scenes of jubilation when he leapt over the advertising hoardings to celebrate with Celtic supporters after scoring an injury time winner in their 3-2 comeback victory over Kilmarnock.
And unbeknown to the Bournemouth loanee, his Rugby Park strike also sent shockwaves back home in his native Mexico.
The full back was signed by previous Hoops boss Wilfried Nancy on loan from the Cherries last month shortly before the Frenchman was sacked but has started in seven of the last 10 matches under Martin O’Neill.
Celts endured a torrid start against Neil McCann’s Killie, going 2-0 down inside 28 first half minutes. However, goals from Sebastian Tounekti and Benjamin Nygren got them back on level terms before Araujo struck in the seventh minute of injury time to move Celtic to within three points of Premiership leaders Hearts with a game in hand.
Araujo was booked for his actions and in a post-match interview was ambushed by O’Neill who jokingly pointed out his struggles in the first half.
The 24-year-old was born in the United States but was raised in a Mexican family. He has won 16 senior caps for his country since making his debut in 2021 and was part of the team that lifted the CONCAF Gold Cup in 2023.
And his Rugby Park winner was celebrated wildly during Mexican TV channel Canal Goat BR’s live coverage of the game.
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After smashing the ball into the top corner from Tomas Cvancara’s cut back, Araujo raced off to immerse himself amongst the jubilant travelling Celtic contingent in Ayrshire.
And those chaotic scenes were very much replicated back over in Mexico, with the commentator failing to contain his excitement.
Speaking to Celtic TV after the game, Araujo said: “I don’t think I’ve ever scored a goal like that. I think this is why everybody has told me what Celtic is, and now I know why.
This is a feeling that I’ll never forget, a feeling that I’ll remember for the rest of my life. It was probably one of the craziest atmospheres to have everybody run on like that and I’m excited and proud that we were able to get the three points.
“I don’t remember anything, I think I just lost myself in there. I had to enjoy it a little bit for the fans as they stuck through the 90 minutes with us, and obviously without them we wouldn’t have got it done today.”
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