Against Messi: The most beautiful goal of the 2026 World Cup was chosen

FIFA officially announced this evening (Monday) that the goal by Cape Verde national team defender Sidney Lopes Cabral was chosen as the goal of the 2026 World Cup. The goal was scored during the match between Cape Verde and world champions Argentina in the Round of 32 in Miami.

In the 103rd minute of extra time, with the score at 2:1 for the Argentinians, 23-year-old Cabral dribbled against Alexis Mac Allister, cut to the center, and from outside the box fired a curling shot into the far corner of Emiliano Martinez's goal. The dramatic match eventually ended in a 3:2 victory for Argentina, but the goal was determined to be one of the most prominent and surprising moments of the tournament.

In the official vote held on the FIFA website, Cabral's performance took first place out of 308 goals scored throughout the World Cup. The goal by Eldor Shomurodov from Uzbekistan came in second, and the goal by Wilson Isidor from Haiti was chosen for third. Cabral's win places him on a list with past winners of the tournament's goal title, including James Rodriguez (2014), Benjamin Pavard (2018), and Richarlison (2022).

"When I saw the ball going into the top corner, I couldn't believe it," Cabral said after the results were published. "Scoring a goal like that on the biggest stage against a team like Argentina is a very emotional moment for me."