Cabral Claims Top Honour for Best World Cup Strike

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

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The 23-year-old defender produced one of the defining moments of the tournament during Cape Verde’s thrilling 3-2 extra-time defeat to defending champions Argentina in the Round of 32.

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After gliding past Alexis Mac Allister, Lopes Cabral unleashed a sublime curling effort that flew beyond Emiliano Martinez into the top corner, a goal that ultimately topped the fan vote ahead of Uzbekistan’s Eldor Shomurodov and Haiti’s Wilson Isidor.

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His triumph places him alongside previous winners Maxi Rodriguez, Diego Forlan, James Rodriguez, Benjamin Pavard and Richarlison.

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Speaking after receiving the award, Lopes Cabral said he instinctively decided to shoot after creating space for himself.

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“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.

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“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.”

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The goal sparked unforgettable scenes in the stands, with the defender revealing that his mother, Teresa, fainted during his celebration.

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“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.

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

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The award caps an extraordinary 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 modest conditions. Now, he has etched his name into World Cup folklore with a goal that will be remembered as the finest of the 2026 tournament.

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