Sidny Lopes Cabral’s stunning goal against Argentina has been voted the best of the 2026 World Cup, completing a memorable tournament for both the left-back and Cape Verde.
The 23-year-old produced the extraordinary strike during Cape Verde’s Round-of-32 meeting with the defending champions at Miami Stadium on July 3.
With his side trailing 2–1 in extra time, Cabral cut inside Argentina midfielder Alexis Mac Allister before curling a right-footed shot beyond Emiliano Martínez and into the far top corner.
According to FIFA’s official match record, the goal arrived in the 103rd minute and brought Cape Verde level at 2–2. Argentina eventually escaped with a 3–2 victory after Diney Borges scored an own goal eight minutes later.
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A moment of brilliance against the champions
Cabral’s goal combined close control, confidence and exceptional technique at one of the most pressurised moments of Cape Verde’s first World Cup campaign.
After receiving the ball on the left, he moved inside Mac Allister and created just enough space to shoot. His effort bent away from Martínez and flew into the top corner, leaving the Argentina goalkeeper with little chance.
The goal briefly gave the tournament debutants hope of producing one of the greatest shocks in World Cup history. Although Argentina recovered to advance, Cabral’s strike immediately emerged as one of the defining images of the competition.
It was particularly significant because it came against a team containing Lionel Messi and several players who had lifted the trophy four years earlier.
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Supporters deliver their verdict
The award was determined by supporters voting through FIFA’s official platform rather than by an internal judging panel.
According to FIFA’s announcement of the final result, Cabral finished ahead of Uzbekistan captain Eldor Shomurodov and Haiti striker Wilson Isidor in the vote for the Hyundai Goal of the Tournament.
Cabral had already dominated the earlier vote for the best goal of the Round of 32. As FIFA described in its report on that stage of the competition, he received 88.7 per cent of the public vote, comfortably beating efforts from Messi, Kaishu Sano, Kylian Mbappé and Julián Quiñones.
His goal has now joined a prestigious list of previous winners that includes Maxi Rodríguez, Diego Forlán, James Rodríguez, Benjamin Pavard and Richarlison.
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Cabral reveals what went through his mind
Cabral admitted that the decision to shoot came almost instinctively after he found space inside the Argentina defence.
“The moment I dribbled past my opponent, I saw an opening and thought, ‘Let’s have a go’,” he said.
The defender immediately began celebrating in disbelief as his teammates reacted with their hands on their heads. For Cabral, simply appearing at the World Cup had represented the fulfilment of a childhood ambition. Scoring one of its most memorable goals against Argentina went far beyond anything he had imagined.
The achievement also earned recognition from Marcelo, the former Brazil and Real Madrid left-back whom Cabral has described as one of his greatest footballing idols. FIFA reported that Marcelo contacted him after the match and revealed that he had voted for the goal.
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A fitting symbol of Cape Verde’s historic campaign
Cape Verde arrived at the tournament as one of its greatest outsiders, competing at a World Cup for the first time.
They nevertheless completed the group stage unbeaten after drawing with Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia. Those results carried the small Atlantic island nation into the knockout rounds and earned the team admirers far beyond Africa.
As FIFA described in its account of Cape Verde’s historic run, the debutants advanced from a group containing two former world champions despite being ranked 67th before the tournament.
Their journey ended painfully against Argentina, but Cabral ensured that Cape Verde left behind one of the tournament’s most enduring moments.
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The result may record an Argentine victory. The image that survived the match, however, belongs to the Cape Verde defender who stepped inside, aimed for the top corner and produced the finest goal of the World Cup.
