Cape Verde midfielder Kevin Pina has written himself into World Cup history, scoring the Blue Sharks' first-ever goal at the tournament with a thunderous free-kick to put the debutants ahead against two-time winners Uruguay.

The two sides clashed in Group H at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on June 21, 2026, with Marcelo Bielsa's Uruguay widely considered the stronger outfit — despite Cape Verde's impressive draw against Spain in their opening match.

The goal that changed everything

In the 21st minute, Pina stepped up from 25 yards and drilled a low free-kick into the bottom corner, leaving the Uruguay goalkeeper with no answer. The strike carried an xG of just 0.04, making the precision all the more remarkable.

The 29-year-old has pulled off something similar before — he scored from a comparable distance in open play against Mozambique at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2023, showing this kind of range is no accident.

From Praia to the world stage

Pina was born in Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, and took his first steps in football with local club Tchadense. He launched his professional career with Portuguese side Oliveirense, going out on loan to Anadia and Sertanense before a permanent move to Chaves.

He spent several years at Chaves before joining Russian outfit Krasnodar in 2022 — a club that claimed the Russian Premier League title in 2024/25, though they finished as runners-up in the most recent campaign.

Pina made his senior international debut for Cape Verde in 2022, coming on in a 6-0 victory over Liechtenstein. The goal against Uruguay was only his third for the Blue Sharks — yet it is already the most significant in the island nation's football history.

Cape Verde, a country of roughly 500,000 people, are making their first-ever appearance at a World Cup. With a draw against Spain and now a lead against Uruguay secured through Pina's stunning strike, the small island nation is capturing the attention of football fans across the world.