Cape Verde made headlines in World Cup history on Monday when Sidny Lopes Cabral won the public vote for the tournament’s best goal.
Lopes Cabral’s stunning curling shot into the far top corner of the Argentina net was a highlight in a World Cup where the underdog African team made an impressive debut.
His goal, which leveled the score at 2-2 in extra time during an exhilarating round-of-32 match in Miami Gardens, ultimately wasn’t enough as Cape Verde lost 3-2.
Sidny Lopes Cabral delivers an ABSOLUTE GOLAZO to equalize for Cape Verde against Argentina in extra time! 😱
INCREDIBLE SCENES pic.twitter.com/ox1DColGJv
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 4, 2026
Lopes Cabral’s goal was recognized as the best among 308 goals scored throughout the tournament, surpassing Eldor Shomurodov‘s delicate lob for Uzbekistan against Congo, and Wilson Isidor‘s powerful rising shot for Haiti against Morocco.
FIFA compiled a shortlist of 12 goals for public voting, which concluded on Monday.
Lopes Cabral’s celebration will also be remembered in World Cup history as he broke free from his teammates, climbed into the stands to embrace his girlfriend, and searched for his mother.
“Before the match, I told my mom and girlfriend that if I scored, I would run to them,” he recounted. “When I reached them, I saw my mom crying. She hadn’t realized I was right there. Everyone was attending to her because she had fainted when I scored.”
Cape Verde’s performance was commendable throughout the tournament, challenging both World Cup finalists. Their goalkeeper, Vozinha, had a standout display that began with a surprise 0-0 draw against eventual champions Spain.