Lionel Messi & Kylian Mbappe beaten to World Cup Goal of the Tournament award as iconic strike vs Argentina takes the prize

The importance of the strike was amplified by the opposition, as Cabo Verde faced the eventual finalists in Miami. “When I looked up and saw it heading for that top corner, I thought, ‘What the hell did I just do?’ I couldn’t believe it,” Lopes Cabral said while recounting the celebrations.

Cabral’s mother eventually recovered after being tended to by those nearby, but the scene drew comparisons to Lilian Thuram’s mother fainting during the 1998 World Cup.

The goal itself stood out for its technical difficulty, especially coming from a full-back. “I started running without thinking. Then it hit me that I’d scored a spectacular goal in the World Cup,” Cabral said.