Cape Verde’s unforgettable FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign received another major honour after Sidny Lopes Cabral’s stunning strike against Argentina was voted Goal of the Tournament.

The spectacular finish came during Cape Verde’s dramatic Round of 32 clash against defending champions Argentina in Miami Gardens. With his side trailing, Lopes Cabral curled a brilliant effort into the far top corner to level the match at 2-2 in extra time, producing one of the most memorable goals of the competition.

Although Cape Verde eventually suffered a 3-2 defeat, the goal left a lasting impression on fans around the world.

Public vote crowns Cape Verde’s stunning strike

FIFA selected 12 goals for supporters to vote on, with the online poll closing on Monday.

Lopes Cabral’s strike finished first among all 308 goals scored during the tournament. It beat Eldor Shomurodov’s composed lob for Uzbekistan against Congo and Wilson Isidor’s powerful finish for Haiti against Morocco to take the top honour.

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The award capped an impressive World Cup debut for Cape Verde, whose performances earned praise throughout the tournament.

Emotional celebration becomes a World Cup highlight

The goal was memorable not only for its quality but also for what happened moments later. After finding the net, Lopes Cabral broke away from celebrating teammates and climbed into the stands to embrace his girlfriend before searching for his mother.

Later, he explained the emotional reason behind the celebration. “Before the game, I’d told my mom and my girlfriend that if I scored, I’d run over to them.”

The moment became even more emotional when he discovered what had happened in the crowd. “When I got there, I saw my mom crying. She hadn’t even realized I was right there. Everyone was busy tending to her because she had fainted when I scored,” Cabral added.

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The celebration quickly became one of the defining images of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Cape Verde’s dream World Cup debut

Cape Verde exceeded expectations throughout its first appearance at the FIFA World Cup. The African nation earned worldwide attention in its opening match after holding eventual champions Spain to a goalless draw, thanks largely to an outstanding performance from goalkeeper Vozinha.

Vozinha waves the Cape Verde flag after their 0-0 draw with Spain at the FIFA World Cup
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Vozinha waves the Cape Verde flag after their 0-0 draw with Spain at the FIFA World Cup | X [433]

The team also pushed Argentina to the limit in a thrilling knockout encounter before narrowly missing out on a place in the next round.

Even though Cape Verde’s historic campaign ended in the Round of 32, Sidny Lopes Cabral’s award-winning goal and unforgettable celebration ensured the tournament debut will be remembered long after the final whistle.

FAQs

Which goal won the FIFA World Cup 2026 Goal of the Tournament award?

Sidny Lopes Cabral’s curling strike for Cape Verde against Argentina in the Round of 32 won the public vote.

Why was Sidny Lopes Cabral’s goal so memorable?

Besides its stunning finish, the goal was followed by an emotional celebration as he ran into the stands to embrace his family.