The Cape Verdean striker’s goal Sidny Lopes Cabral against Argentina, in the round of 16 of the World Cup, was chosen as the best of the tournament, Fifa reported.
The score came in the 103rd minute, during extra time, and meant a 2-2 tie for Cape Verde. However, Argentina ended up winning and advanced to the quarterfinals.
Lopes Cabral, born in the Netherlands in 2002 and recently signed by Trabzonspor in Turkey, left the Argentine Alexis Mac Allister behind with a cut-back before taking a powerful shot from the left sector of the area that entered the corner.
“As soon as I passed my rival, I saw a space and thought: ‘Let’s try it’. I have a good shot with both legs. I saw the space and aimed for the corner. I looked for that spot and hit a great shot. When I looked up and saw the ball going towards the corner, I thought: ‘What did I just do?’. I couldn’t believe it.”declared the footballer to Fifa.
“I looked at my teammates and they were all shouting, with their hands on their heads, overflowing with joy. I started running without thinking. Then I realized that I had just scored a spectacular goal in a World Cup. Everyone dreams of scoring in a World Cup, but doing it this way, in a setting like this and against an opponent of such a level, was incredible. I was really happy,” he added.
The goal that stole your hearts all the way to the top. 💙⚽️
Sidny Lopes Cabral is your Hyundai Goal of the Tournament winner at the FIFA World Cup 2026! 🌟#FIFAWorldCup #Hyundai #HGOTT #HyundaiGOTT2026 @Hyundai_Global pic.twitter.com/jeZ7kqI1CG— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 27, 2026
Cape Verde’s joy was short-lived, as an own goal by Diney, in the 111th minute, allowed Argentina to seal qualification.
Lopes Cabral also revealed that Brazilian Marcelo, a former Real Madrid player, congratulated him on the score. “After the game I received a message from Marcelo. He is one of my biggest idols. He is a left back, dominates both legs and has extraordinary technique. He told me that he had voted my goal as the best of the tournament! I could only think: ‘I can’t believe it!'” he stated.
The podium of the best goals of the World Cup was completed by the goal of the Uzbek Eldor Shomurodov, against the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and that of the Haitian Wilson Isidor, against Morocco, both scored in the group stage.