Cabral wins Goal of the Tournament at World Cup

Sidny Lopes Cabral’s amazing goal for Cape Verde against Argentina has been voted the Hyundai Goal of the Tournament at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The 23-year-old defender made a big mark during Cape Verde’s exciting 3-2 extra-time loss to the defending champions Argentina in the Round of 32.

After getting past Alexis Mac Allister, Lopes Cabral took a stunning curling shot that flew over Emiliano Martinez into the top corner. This goal won the fan vote ahead of Uzbekistan’s Eldor Shomurodov and Haiti’s Wilson Isidor.

His victory places him among past winners like Maxi Rodriguez, Diego Forlan, James Rodriguez, Benjamin Pavard and Richarlison.

After receiving the award, Lopes Cabral said he decided to shoot after finding space for himself.

“The moment I dribbled past my opponent, I saw an opening and thought, ‘Let’s have a go.’ I shoot well with both feet, so I aimed for the top corner and struck the ball really well,” he said.

“When I looked up and saw it heading there, I thought, ‘What the hell did I just do?’ Everybody dreams of scoring at the World Cup, but to score in that way against a team like Argentina was incredible.”

The goal created unforgettable moments in the stands, with the defender sharing that his mother, Teresa, fainted during his celebration.

“Before the game, I’d told my mom and my girlfriend that if I scored, I’d run over to them. When I got there, everyone was helping my mom because she had fainted when I scored,” he said.

Lopes Cabral also mentioned that former Brazil and Real Madrid defender Marcelo, one of his childhood idols, sent him a congratulatory message after the match and said he voted for the goal as the best of the tournament.

The award marks an amazing rise for the Rotterdam-born defender of Cape Verdean descent. Just three years ago, he was playing in Germany’s fifth division and living in simple conditions. Now, he has made his mark in World Cup history with a goal that will be remembered as the best of the 2026 tournament.