Sidny Lopes Cabral’s girlfriend hails his World Cup wonder goal

Sidny Lopes Cabral sprinted 23 metres to embrace his girlfriend Jayley da Cruz after scoring a World Cup goal. The Cape Verde international’s strike against Argentina sent shockwaves through the tournament.

Jayley da Cruz posted on Instagram: “I always knew what you were capable of, but for the whole world to witness it is something I will never forget. I don’t think my face could hide how shocked I was.” She added: “I know how much you have sacrificed and how hard you have worked to get here. That’s why this moment means so much more than just a goal.”

The 23-year-old left-back from Schiedam progressed through Feyenoord and FC Twente academies before failing to earn a senior contract in the Netherlands. After spells at Helsingborg and FC Rot-Weiß Erfurt, he joined Viktoria Köln in Germany’s third tier for the 2024/25 season.

He moved to Estrela de Amadora for six months, then spent five months at Benfica, before a €7 million transfer to Trabzonspor shortly before the World Cup. His goal against Argentina has now positioned Cape Verde as a potential giant-killer against the world champions.

Nicolás Tagliafico, the former Ajax left-back, celebrated reaching the World Cup quarter-finals with his girlfriend Caro Calvagni. The photo caption read “Reloading” as the couple enjoyed their milestone moment together.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino thanked the Netherlands for their World Cup participation on Friday. “Your participation was marked by entertaining football and spectacular goals that brought joy to millions worldwide,” he wrote. “Despite your journey ending in a heartbreaking penalty shootout, it was wonderful to see the Netherlands on the biggest stage with such quality.”

Claudio Fabián ‘Chiqui’ Tapia, president of the Argentine Football Association since 2017, oversaw Argentina’s Copa América wins in 2021 and 2024 and the 2022 World Cup triumph. Ahead of the Round of 16 against Cape Verde, he posed with captain Lionel Messi and midfielder Rodrigo De Paul.

Erling Haaland has entertained fans beyond the pitch in the United States, sharing images of himself in a cowboy hat and boots. On his shirt he wore the words “Y’all can kiss my Dallas” after purchasing it at Wild Bill’s Western Store.

Isabel Haugseng Johansen, Haaland’s girlfriend, posted: “A dream come true! We are all so proud” following his performance against Ivory Coast, to which Haaland replied “Yeeeehaw!”

Siphiwe Tshabalala, scorer of South Africa’s first-ever World Cup goal in 2010, shared photographs with Guillermo Ochoa, the Mexican goalkeeper he beat that day, now a teammate at their sixth World Cup together.