The 33-year-old claimed a silver medal at last month’s World Games in Polish city Wrocław.

It came just over five weeks after his win at the 2017 Karate 1-Series A opener on home soil in Toledo. 

Quintero has earned five medals in six competitions this year and has an advantage of 2,390 points over second-placed Ryo Kiyuna of Japan.

World champion Kiyuna, who beat Quintero in the World Games final, has triumphed in all three of his appearances this year.

His last gold medal in tournaments impacting on the world rankings was last month’s Asian Championships in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana.

Venezuela’s Antonio Diaz, who claimed the bronze medal at the World Games, and Turkey’s Ali Sofuoglu, the European silver medallist, occupy third and fourth spot respectively.

Quintero’s compatriot Sandra Sánchez, the World Games silver medallist, leads the women’s kata rankings.

The current European title-holder has reached the podium in all six international events this year, topping it at the continental championships, the Karate 1-Premier League event in Dubai and the Karate 1-Series A event in Toledo.

The 35-year-old athlete maintains a clear lead over Italy’s Viviana Bottaro, who is fast becoming the most decorated competitor this season.

Bottaro, 29, has tasted victory in all Karate 1-Premier League events this year, either in team or individual competition, and also claimed silver at the European Championships in Kocaeli in Turkey.

Third place in the rankings is currently held by Japan’s Kiyou Shimizu.

The two-time world champion won gold at the World Games to keep up her record-breaking winning streak of victories in international competition, spanning nearly six years.

Reigning world champion Amir Mehdizadeh of Iran heads men’s kumite under 60kg rankings, while Venezuela’s Andres Madera holds first position in the men’s kumite under 67kg standings. 

Other male kumite front runners are the United States’ Thomas Scott in the under 75kg, Japan’s Ryutaro Araga in the under 84kg and Iran’s Sajad Ganjzadeh in the over 84kg. 

In the women’s kumite under 50kg category, France’s Alexandra Recchia leads the way. 

Other female kumite ranking leaders are Brazil’s Valeria Kumizaki in the under 55kg, Slovakia’s Ingrida Suchankova in the under 61kg, Austria’s Alisa Buchinger in the under 68kg and Japan’s Ayumi Uekusa in the over 68kg.

The latest world rankings can be viewed in full by clicking here.  

The sport's next major competition is the Karate 1-Premier League event in Halle and Leipzig.

Action in the German cities is due to take place from September 8 to 10.