Kevin Pina scores Cape Verde's first-ever World Cup goal to stun Uruguay in Miami

Cape Verde midfielder Kevin Pina became his country’s first-ever World Cup goalscorer on 21 June 2026, firing a low free-kick past Uruguay’s goalkeeper at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami to give the Blue Sharks a stunning lead in their Group H encounter.

With 21 minutes played, Pina stepped up from 25 yards and drove the ball into the bottom corner, leaving Uruguay’s defence and goalkeeper with little answer. The strike carried an xG of just 0.04, underlining just how precise the execution needed to be — and how emphatic the moment was for a nation of roughly 500,000 people competing at their first-ever World Cup.

It was not an entirely unfamiliar situation for the 29-year-old. Pina scored from a similar distance in open play against Mozambique at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2023, and his ability to threaten from range has become a hallmark of his game. The goal against Uruguay was only his third for the Blue Sharks, yet it instantly became the most significant in Cape Verdean football history.

Pina was born in Praia, Cape Verde’s capital, and began his career with local club Tchadense before moving to Portugal, where he turned professional with Oliveirense. Loan spells at Anadia and Sertanense followed, before a permanent move to Chaves, where he remained until 2022. He then transferred to Russian side Krasnodar, who won the Russian Premier League in 2024/25, though they finished as runners-up in the most recent campaign.

His international debut came in 2022 in a 6-0 victory over Liechtenstein, having previously represented Cape Verde at youth level. The Blue Sharks had already announced themselves at the tournament with a draw against former world champions Spain in their opening match — a result that signalled this was no ordinary debutant side.

Against Uruguay, managed by Marcelo Bielsa, Cape Verde went one step further. La Celeste arrived at Hard Rock Stadium as clear favourites, but Pina’s free-kick ensured the underdogs would be the ones making headlines.