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Meet Yoane Wissa, who scored DR Congo’s first-ever goal at a World Cup
Meet Yoane Wissa, who scored DR Congo’s first-ever goal at a World Cup
Wissa, who nearly lost his sight in 2021, scored a header marking DR Congo’s historic return to the World Cup.
Meet Yoane Wissa, the Man Who Scored DR Congo's First-Ever ... - MensXP
Meet Yoane Wissa, the Man Who Scored DR Congo's First-Ever ... - MensXP
Specialty:Sports
When the opening whistle blew for the game betweenPortugaland DR Congo in theFIFA World Cup 2026in Group K being played in Houston, Texas, it was a historic moment for the African side. They were playing in the tournament for the first time in 52 years. In 1974, they had taken part as Zaire.
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Disaster struck early for Congo when Joao Neves’ header found the back of the net in the sixth minute to put Portugal ahead. All eyes of course were onCristiano Ronaldowho was leading the side. For Congo, it seemed to be a familiar tale in the making as they had lost all three games back in 1974.
But 29-year-old Yoane Wissa had other ideas. Late in the first half, striker connected with a cross and put the ball into the top-left corner. It was 1-1 going into half time and suddenly Portugal were rattled. But for Congo and Wissa, that goal was history in itself as it was the country’s first-ever World Cup goal. Back in 1974, Zaire had not found the back of the net even once. In 2026, they did it in their very first game as Congo.
Congo would hold on in the second half as neither Ronald…
Who is Yoane Wissa? Meet DR Congo goal scorer who made history for his ...
Who is Yoane Wissa? Meet DR Congo goal scorer who made history for his ...
David Suggs
Troy Taormina, Imagn Images
Many tipped Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo to respond to Lionel Messi's legendary hat trick vs. Algeria with a glistening performance of his own.
Portugal kicked off itsWorld Cupwith Central African juggernaut the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Wednesday afternoon, laying the runway for the Al-Nassr striker to flourish.
Instead, Ronaldo fell into the background, overshadowed by a Congolese forward who has emerged as one of Africa's finest goal-scorers in recent campaigns.
MORE:DR Congo vs. Portugal results, highlights from World Cup game
DRC striker Yoane Wissa burst the net with a delicate header into the corner at the end of the first half. The goal proved consequential: Wissa became the DRC's first-ever World Cup goal-scorer.
He celebrated the strike as any good forward would do, dancing to his heart's desire as legions of his countrymen — and those showing solidarity to them — danced on in the concourses.
Wissa has gotten used to bagging decisive goals against European heavyweights over the years. Here's what you need to know about the forward…
Who Is Yoane Wissa? Newcastle Forward Who Scored First Goal Of Congo ...
Who Is Yoane Wissa? Newcastle Forward Who Scored First Goal Of Congo ...
Yoane Wissa carved his name into football history with a moment that will be remembered for generations, scoring DR Congo's first-ever FIFA World Cup goal in a dramatic 1-1 draw against Portugal. The landmark strike came deep into first-half stoppage time in their Group K opener at Houston Stadium, as Wissa rose unmarked to head home and cancel out João Neves' early goal.
The significance of the moment extended far beyond the scoreboard. It ended a 52-year wait for DR Congo, whose only previous World Cup appearance came in 1974 when they competed as Zaire and failed to score a single goal. For decades, that statistic stood as a painful reminder of missed opportunities on football's biggest stage.
Wissa's equaliser not only rewrote that narrative but also symbolised a new chapter for the nation's footballing identity. Against a dominant Portugal side, DR Congo showed resilience and belief, with their historic goal serving as a reward for disciplined defending and persistence.
In one decisive header, Wissa transformed a long-standing record into a moment of pride, ensuring DR Congo's name is finally etched o…
Meet Yoane Wissa: The Newcastle Striker Who Scored DR Congo's First ...
Meet Yoane Wissa: The Newcastle Striker Who Scored DR Congo's First ...
In the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time at NRG Stadium, Houston, Yoane Wissa powered a header into the net against Portugal — scoring DR Congo's first-ever FIFA World Cup goal and claiming their first-ever point in the competition.
Some moments in football carry a weight that extends far beyond the 90 minutes. On June 17, 2026, with Portugal holding a 1-0 lead at the NRG Stadium in Houston and the clock ticking deep into first-half stoppage time, a corner was swung in from the right. Arthur Masuaku's delivery was perfect. And arriving with perfect timing was Yoane Wissa — Newcastle United's 29-year-old striker — who powered a thunderous header into the back of the net.
The scenes that followed were unlike anything Houston's sporting arena had ever witnessed. DR Congo's players, staff and supporters erupted. A nation that had waited 52 years for a moment like this had finally arrived. Wissa's header was not just a goal; it was a piece of African football history — the first FIFA World Cup goal ever scored by DR Congo.
João Neves had given Portugal the lead in the sixth minute with a composed header f…
Who is Yoane Wissa? DR Congo striker who scored vs Portugal in FIFA ...
Who is Yoane Wissa? DR Congo striker who scored vs Portugal in FIFA ...
FIFA World Cup
(Courtesy :Getty)
Yoane Wissa stunned the crowd in Houston with a stunning header to draw DR Congo level in theirFIFA World Cup 2026match against Portugal on June 17. It was a special strike for the African team as it marked theirfirst-ever goal in FIFA’s flagship tournament.
The Portuguese side dominated the match from kick-off, and Joao Neves gave them the lead in the sixth minute with a fine header. DR Congo, however, responded well, defending their goal with greater urgency to deny the Selecao das Quinas.
The moment of magic came with the final attack before half-time. Lens full-back Arthur Masuaku floated in an accurate cross into the middle of the Portuguese box, which was met by a completely unmarked Wissa. He diverted it into the top corner, giving Diogo Costa no chance.
Also Read:Who is Livano Comenencia? Youngster who scored Curacao’s first FIFA World Cup goal
Born in the Parisian suburb of Epinay-sous-Senart, Wissa started his career in the LB Chateauroux academy. After making his senior debut there, he moved to Angers on a free transfer, where he spent time on loan at Laval and…
Who is Yoane Wissa? Meet DR Congo goal scorer who made history for his ...
Who is Yoane Wissa? Meet DR Congo goal scorer who made history for his ...
David Suggs
Troy Taormina, Imagn Images
Many tipped Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo to respond to Lionel Messi's legendary hat trick vs. Algeria with a glistening performance of his own.
Portugal kicked off itsWorld Cupwith Central African juggernaut the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Wednesday afternoon, laying the runway for the Al-Nassr striker to flourish.
Instead, Ronaldo fell into the background, overshadowed by a Congolese forward who has emerged as one of Africa's finest goal-scorers in recent campaigns.
MORE:DR Congo vs. Portugal results, highlights from World Cup game
DRC striker Yoane Wissa burst the net with a delicate header into the corner at the end of the first half. The goal proved consequential: Wissa became the DRC's first-ever World Cup goal-scorer.
He celebrated the strike as any good forward would do, dancing to his heart's desire as legions of his countrymen — and those showing solidarity to them — danced on in the concourses.
Wissa has gotten used to bagging decisive goals against European heavyweights over the years. Here's what you need to know about the forward…
Corroboration
No verdict, no pronouncement. The model extracts atomic factual claims with verbatim quotes; every quote is validated against the source text and corroboration is computed by counting how many editorially-opposed blocs assert each fact. 6 fabricated/unverifiable quotes were rejected by the cite-or-die gate.
The spine · 7 facts corroborated across ≥2 opposed blocs
2×cross-perspective · 2Yoane Wissa's goal was DR Congo's first-ever goal in FIFA World Cup history.
otherqatar
aljazeera“Wissa, who nearly lost his sight in 2021, scored a header marking DR Congo’s historic return to the World Cup.”
mensxp.com“But for Congo and Wissa, that goal was history in itself as it was the country’s first-ever World Cup goal. Back in 1974, Zaire had not found the back of the net even once.”
sportingnews.com“The goal proved consequential: Wissa became the DRC's first-ever World Cup goal-scorer.”
fifaworldcup-news.org“Yoane Wissa powered a header into the net against Portugal — scoring DR Congo's first-ever FIFA World Cup goal”
khelnow.com“It was a special strike for the African team as it marked theirfirst-ever goal in FIFA’s flagship tournament.”
1×cross-perspective · 2DR Congo was playing in the World Cup for the first time in 52 years, having previously participated in 1974 as Zaire.
other
mensxp.com“They were playing in the tournament for the first time in 52 years. In 1974, they had taken part as Zaire.”
fifaworldcup-news.org“A nation that had waited 52 years for a moment like this had finally arrived.”
1×cross-perspective · 2Joao Neves scored for Portugal in the sixth minute with a header.
other
mensxp.com“Disaster struck early for Congo when Joao Neves’ header found the back of the net in the sixth minute to put Portugal ahead.”
fifaworldcup-news.org“João Neves had given Portugal the lead in the sixth minu”
khelnow.com“The Portuguese side dominated the match from kick-off, and Joao Neves gave them the lead in the sixth minute with a fine header.”
1×cross-perspective · 2Yoane Wissa scored a header for DR Congo late in the first half (specifically in stoppage time) to equalize the match at 1-1.
other
mensxp.com“Late in the first half, striker connected with a cross and put the ball into the top-left corner. It was 1-1 going into half time”
sportingnews.com“DRC striker Yoane Wissa burst the net with a delicate header into the corner at the end of the first half.”
khelnow.com“The moment of magic came with the final attack before half-time. Lens full-back Arthur Masuaku floated in an accurate cross into the middle of the Portuguese box, which was met by a completely unmarked Wissa. He diverted it into the top corner”
1×broadly confirmedArthur Masuaku provided the assist for Wissa's goal.
other
fifaworldcup-news.org“Arthur Masuaku's delivery was perfect. And arriving with perfect timing was Yoane Wissa”
khelnow.com“Lens full-back Arthur Masuaku floated in an accurate cross into the middle of the Portuguese box, which was met by a completely unmarked Wissa.”
1×cross-perspective · 2Yoane Wissa is a 29-year-old striker for Newcastle United.
other
mensxp.com“But 29-year-old Yoane Wissa had other ideas.”
fifaworldcup-news.org“arriving with perfect timing was Yoane Wissa — Newcastle United's 29-year-old striker”
1×cross-perspective · 2Cristiano Ronaldo played for Portugal in the match.
other
mensxp.com“All eyes of course were onCristiano Ronaldowho was leading the side.”
sportingnews.com“Many tipped Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo to respond to Lionel Messi's legendary hat trick vs. Algeria with a glistening performance of his own.”
Single-source · 2 — reported by one bloc only (uncorroborated)
DR Congo played Portugal in the FIFA World Cup 2026 on June 17, 2026, in Houston, Texas.
khelnow.com
The match ended in a 1-1 draw, giving DR Congo their first-ever point in the World Cup.
fifaworldcup-news.org
Framing · 3 — loaded language surfaced (spin shown, not adopted)
aljazeera
“Wissa, who nearly lost his sight in 2021, scored a header marking DR Congo’s historic return to the World Cup.”
→ Wissa scored the goal.
sportingnews.com
“Instead, Ronaldo fell into the background, overshadowed by a Congolese forward who has emerged as one of Africa's finest goal-scorers in recent campaigns.”
→ Ronaldo had a less prominent performance than expected; Wissa is considered a top African scorer.
fifaworldcup-news.org
“The scenes that followed were unlike anything Houston's sporting arena had ever witnessed. DR Congo's players, staff and supporters erupted. A nation that had waited 52 years for a moment like this had finally arrived. Wissa's header was not just a goal; it was a piece of African football history”
→ The crowd and team celebrated enthusiastically; the goal is viewed as historically significant for African football.
Entities
Democratic Republic of the Congoplace
FIFAorg
Congoplace
Portugalplace
Newcastleplace
MensXPorg
Yoane Wissaperson