Kevin Pina Scores Cape Verde's 1st-Ever FIFA World Cup Goal With A Sensational Strike From Direct Free-Kick | Watch

Last Updated:June 22, 2026, 04:15 IST

The 29-year-old defensive midfielder netted a stunning direct free-kick in the 21st minute to give Cape Verde a shock lead against two-time champions Uruguay in Group H match.

Kevin Pina etched his name into the history books on Sunday (Monday IST) by scoring Cape Verde’s first-ever goal at the FIFA World Cup. The 29-year-old defensive midfielder netted a stunning direct free-kick in the 21st minute to give Cape Verde a shock lead against two-time champions Uruguay in their Group H match at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.

Cape Verde played their first-ever FIFA World Cup match against Spain on June 15, 2026, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, but the contest ended in a goalless draw.

In the build-up to the match against Uruguay, much of the attention was on 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha, who produced an outstanding performance against Spain. However, it is Kevin Pina who has now stolen the spotlight.

About the Author

Harshit BishtSenior Sub-editor

Harshit Bisht is a sports journalist with CNN-News18 since July 1, 2024, and covers cricket with a sharp eye for records, trends, and match analysis. Based in Noida, he has reported extensively on the...Read More

News sports football Kevin Pina Scores Cape Verde's 1st-Ever FIFA World Cup Goal With A Sensational Strike From Direct Free-Kick | Watch

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