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[SITUATION] · [ACTIVE]

2 clusters · 55 sources · 22 days · First seen 24 days ago · Last updated 3 days ago

Categories: SPORTS

Cabral wins Goal of Tournament 2026

Entities: Marcelo · Cape Verde national football team · FIFA · Cape Verde national team · Argentina national team

Overview

Cape Verde defender Sidny Lopes Cabral’s 103rd‑minute strike against Argentina in the round‑of‑16 of the 2026 World Cup was confirmed as the tournament’s Best Goal on 26 July 2026 after an online FIFA fan poll that shortlisted twelve finishes. The extra‑time equaliser brought the match to 2‑2; Argentina later advanced 3‑2 through an own‑goal.

Cabral, a 23‑year‑old born in Rotterdam, became the first African player and only the second defender (after France’s Benjamin Pavard in 2018) to win the Goal‑of‑the‑Tournament award, beating Uzbekistan’s Eldor Shomurodov and Haiti’s Wilson Isidor. The vote also placed his goal ahead of attempts by Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland, underscoring its popularity.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino used the announcement to urge focus on the tournament’s joy, dismissing recent criticism linked to off‑field controversies. Cabral’s personal moments – his mother fainting in the stands and a congratulatory message from former Real Madrid star Marcelo – added emotional depth to the achievement. Off the pitch, Cabral completed a €10 million transfer from Benfica to Turkish side Trabzonspor in June 2026, further raising his profile.

The award was confirmed by FIFA on 26 July 2026.

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 24 SOURCES] Sidny Lopes Cabral scored a goal against Argentina in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup at the 103rd minute of extra time. (FIFA)
[● 24 SOURCES] FIFA announced that Cabral’s goal was voted the Best Goal of the Tournament in a fan poll on its official website. (FIFA)
[● 23 SOURCES] Cabral’s mother fainted from emotion shortly after he scored the goal. (Cabral)
[● 23 SOURCES] The goal was selected by a fan vote on FIFA’s official website as the Goal of the Tournament for the 2026 World Cup, beating eleven other shortlisted goals. (FIFA announced that a fan poll on its official website selected Cabral’s goal as the Goal of the Tournament, beating 11‑)
[● 23 SOURCES] Cape Verde were eliminated after midfielder Diney scored an own‑goal in the 111th minute, giving Argentina a 3‑2 win. (elimination)
[● 23 SOURCES] Former Real Madrid and Brazil international Marcelo sent Cabral a personal congratulatory message after the match. (congratulatory_message)
[● 23 SOURCES] FIFA’s shortlist for the Goal of the Tournament vote comprised twelve of the tournament’s most striking finishes. (The poll considered a shortlist of twelve goals.)
[● 22 SOURCES] The match ended 3‑2 after extra time with Argentina advancing to the quarter‑finals. (Match report)
[● 21 SOURCES] Sidny Lopes Cabral became the first player from an African nation to win the FIFA World Cup Goal of the Tournament award. (FIFA)
[● 20 SOURCES] Sidny Lopes Cabral scored a goal against Argentina in the round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. (Sidny Lopes Cabral scored a goal against Argentina ... in the round of 16 ... minute 103.)
[● 20 SOURCES] Former Real Madrid and Brazil international Marcelo sent Cabral a personal congratulatory message and said he voted for the goal. (Marcelo)
[● 19 SOURCES] Cabral’s goal beat Eldor Shomurodov of Uzbekistan and Wilson Isidor of Haiti in the fan vote. (poll_ranking)

Timeline

3 days ago

[SPORTS] 55 sources
Sidny Lopes Cabral's Goal Wins FIFA Best Goal Award at 2026 World Cup
FIFA named Sidny Lopes Cabral’s 103rd‑minute strike against Argentina the Best Goal of the 2026 World Cup, beating goals from Uzbekistan and Haiti; the 23‑year‑old Cape Verde defender now plays for Trabzonspor.
24 days ago

[SPORTS] 3 sources
Morocco's tactical surge and Cape Verde's romantic goal celebration at the World Cup
Morocco advanced with a tactical win highlighted by Ounahi’s double, while Cape Verde’s Sidny Lopes Cabral scored a dramatic equaliser against Argentina and celebrated by searching the stands for his partner, a

Sources

allegrini.it · archysport.com · beta.rs · blueprint.ng · br.bolavip.com · bravosports.net.ve · cachedata.sport.sk · canal4.com.ni · caraotadigital.net · completesports.com · danas.rs · diariodenavarra.es · diariopanorama.com · eldiariony.com · elespectador.com · elheraldodesaltillo.mx · extra.ec · footalgerien.com · futbolmundial.net · gsp.ro · haber.ba · haber61.net · haberts.com · haberx.com · japantoday.com · komercnespravy.pravda.sk · kurir.rs · labandadiario.com.ar · metropoles.com · monitoreamos.com · motor24.pt · msn.foxsports.com · myjoyonline.com · niezalezna.pl · nnn.ng · nova.rs · observador.pt · odia.com.br · primerafuente.com.ar · sallinggroup.com · sd.rs · shorediving.com · si.com · sinmordaza.com · skrotymeczow.pl · slobodenpecat.mk · sport24.pluska.sk · telenoticies.cat

This summary has been updated 7 times: see revision history