A goal by Cape Verde international Sidny Cabral against Argentina in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup has been voted the best of the tournament, FIFA announced today.
The winner was determined through public voting on FIFA’s official website, after the organization compiled the 12 most memorable finishes from the tournament held across the United States, Mexico and Canada between June 11 and July 19.
Lopes Cabral won the award for his right-footed strike that found the top corner of Emiliano Martínez’s goal in the 12th minute of extra time, during Cape Verde’s clash with Argentina, which ended 2-3.
“It was simply surreal,” the Trabzonspor player told FIFA, recalling the moment that had Cape Verde dreaming big in its first-ever World Cup finals appearance. The former Benfica full-back said the award represents enormous pride and a form of recognition any player would want to receive.
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“I’m really happy about the affection shown by everyone who voted for my goal as the best of the competition,” said the 23-year-old. Speaking to FIFA, the Cape Verdean international, who was born in Rotterdam, Netherlands, insisted the goal wasn’t a fluke.
“It was the second time I’ve scored a goal like that. (…) It wasn’t something completely new for me. But scoring a goal of that quality on a stage like a World Cup is special. It’s a moment that stays with you forever in your career,” he said.
Lopes Cabral’s award comes on the back of Cape Verde’s historic World Cup campaign, in which the team went through the group stage unbeaten in a group containing two former world champions, Spain and Uruguay, as well as Saudi Arabia, and complicated Argentina’s path through the tournament.
“The most rewarding part is realizing that, after the World Cup, so many more people came to know our country. I feel there’s now enormous affection for Cape Verde, for our people and our players. That kind of respect and recognition can’t be bought,” he emphasized.
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For the full-back, the future is already mapped out: “This is just the beginning. (…) There’s a new generation coming up, and we’ll come back even stronger.”
Alongside Sidny Lopes Cabral’s goal, the shortlist also included finishes from Bosnia’s Kerim Alajbegović, Haiti’s Wilson Isidor, Uzbekistan’s Eldor Shomurodov, New Zealand’s Elijah Just, Japan’s Daizen Maeda, France’s Kylian Mbappé, Argentina’s Lionel Messi, Norway’s Erling Haaland, Argentina’s Julián Álvarez, England’s Jude Bellingham and Spain’s Ferran Torres.
