left the FIFA World Cup 2026™ having won admirers across the globe – and with Sidny Lopes Cabral’s wonder goal against Argentina already established as one of this tournament's 'wow' moments.
Football fans around the world have now ensured its place among the official contenders for the award by selecting it as the runaway winner of the poll for the Round of 32’s finest strike.
The sight of Lopes Cabral cutting in from the left wing and curling a magnificent effort beyond Emiliano Martinez and inside the far post was a piece of magic for Cape Verdeans and neutrals alike to savour – a highlight of an already tie in which the newcomers pushed Argentina all the way before succumbing 3-2.
As a result, Lopes Cabral has ended up with a huge 88.7 per cent slice of the public vote, with Argentina’s Lionel Messi in second place with 4.1 per cent for his own strike in that same game, and Japan’s Kaishu Sano third (1.9 per cent) for his goal against Germany. France's Kylian Mbappe (1.6 per cent) and Mexico's Julian Quinones (1.1 per cent) featured in the voting too but there is no doubt which goal has captured fans' imaginations in this round.
This is the second step in the process towards deciding the Hyundai Goal of the Tournament. There will be three subsequent votes, following the same process after the Round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals (combined), and then a final vote at the end of the tournament. With each voting window, FIFA.com users have 48 hours to place their vote.
The winner of the vote for the favourite goal of the group stage was .
Sources: FIFA Official
