Jul 28 (V7N)- Cape Verdean footballer Sidney Lopes Cabral has won the FIFA World Cup 2026 Hyundai Goal of the Tournament award after his spectacular strike against Argentina in the Round of 32 captured the imagination of football fans around the world.

Before the match, Lopes Cabral had joked that he simply hoped to take a photograph alongside Lionel Messi. Instead, the 23-year-old announced himself on the biggest stage in world football with one of the tournament's most memorable goals.

Facing defending champions Argentina in Miami, Cape Verde produced one of the tournament's biggest surprises by pushing the South American giants to extra time. With his team trailing, Lopes Cabral dribbled past Alexis Mac Allister before unleashing a stunning curling strike into the top corner beyond Emiliano Martínez to level the match at 2-2.

Although Argentina eventually claimed a 3-2 extra-time victory, the goal became one of the defining moments of the tournament.

Lopes Cabral beat Uzbekistan's Eldor Shomurodov and Haiti's Wilson Isidore in the fan vote to receive the prestigious award, joining previous winners including Maxi Rodríguez, Diego Forlán, James Rodríguez, Benjamin Pavard and Richarlison.

Reflecting on the goal, Lopes Cabral said:

"After beating my defender, I saw a little space. I know I can shoot well with either foot, so I aimed for the top corner and took my chance. As the ball flew in, I couldn't believe what had happened."

He added:

"Scoring in a World Cup is every footballer's dream. To do it against Argentina on such a huge stage made it even more special."

One of the tournament's most emotional moments came moments after the goal. Lopes Cabral had promised his mother and girlfriend that he would celebrate with them if he scored. However, when he reached the stands, he discovered that his mother, Teresa, had fainted after witnessing the dramatic strike.

"I ran straight toward them," he recalled. "When I arrived, everyone was trying to help my mother because she had fainted from excitement."

The goal also earned praise from former Brazil and Real Madrid legend Marcelo, who reportedly told Lopes Cabral that he had voted for the strike as the tournament's best.

"Marcelo has always been one of my idols," Lopes Cabral said. "Hearing that he voted for my goal was something I never imagined."

Lopes Cabral's rise to football's biggest stage has been remarkable. Just three years earlier, he was playing in Germany's fifth division while struggling financially. His journey from lower-league football to winning one of the World Cup's most prestigious individual honors has become one of the tournament's most inspiring stories.

His achievement serves as a reminder that, in football, extraordinary dreams can become reality.

END/SMA/AJ