One of the most spectacular plays from the 2026 World Cup featured the Argentine National Team, although not for a happy reason. FIFA announced that the impressive goal by Sidny Lopes Cabral for Cape Verde, in the Round of 16 match, was chosen as the best goal of the tournament.
The goal came in the 102nd minute of the match held at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. The Cape Verdean player left Alexis Mac Allister behind and took a powerful shot with spin from outside the box that hit the right corner of Emiliano "Dibu" Martínez's goal, establishing a 2-2 tie in a match that the Albiceleste ultimately won 3-2 in extra time to advance to the next round.
After receiving the recognition, Lopes Cabral recalled how he experienced that moment. "As soon as I got past my opponent, I saw the space and aimed. I looked for that spot and connected a great shot". He then added: "When I looked up and saw the ball going that way, I thought: 'What did I just do?'. I couldn't believe it".
The right-back from Trabzonspor also confessed the emotion he felt scoring in a World Cup. "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, on such a stage and against a rival of such level, was incredible. I was really happy".
The celebration also left a story as striking as it was emotional. As he ran towards the stands to celebrate with his family, the player discovered that his mother, Teresa, had fainted from excitement. "I saw my mother crying and everyone was worried about her because she had fainted when I scored", he recounted with laughter later on.
In the voting organized by FIFA, Lopes Cabral's goal prevailed over that of Uzbek Eldor Shomurodov against the Democratic Republic of the Congo and that of Haitian Wilson Isidor against Morocco, who completed the podium.
With this recognition, Lopes Cabral joined a list of players who left their mark with unforgettable goals in World Cups. The Hyundai Goal of the Tournament award has been given since Germany 2006 and had Maxi Rodríguez as its first winner for his memorable left-footed shot against Mexico in the Round of 16. Later, Diego Forlán was honored for his powerful shot against Germany in the third-place match of South Africa 2010, James Rodríguez for his volley against Uruguay in Brazil 2014, Benjamin Pavard for his spectacular right-footed shot against Argentina in the Round of Russia 2018, and Richarlison for his bicycle kick against Serbia in the group stage of Qatar 2022.
