A World Cup is often defined by its iconic moments. Germany 2006 conjures up images of Zinedine Zidane’s shocking headbutt on Marco Materazzi, while Mexico ’86 brings to mind Maradona’s infamous ‘hand of God’.
The World Cup 2026 gets underway on Thursday and its big moment will surely come. The 2010 World Cup, however, is fondly remembered for South African winger, Siphiwe Tshabalala, scoring a thunderous strike that ignited the tournament against Mexico.
As fate would have it, that very fixture will also launch World Cup 2026. It was June 11, 2010, when Tshabalala fired South Africa ahead in the opening game of the competition with a fierce drive into the top right corner. The iconic touchline dance that followed was almost as famous as the goal itself.
Peter Drury, who was calling the game for ITV at the time, memorialised the moment with his commentary: “Goal Bafana Bafana, goal for South Africa, goal for all Africa,” the Sky Sports announcer bellowed.
The strike sent the 85,000 fans in Soccer City, Johannesburg, into raptures as South Africa were already celebrating being the first African country to host the competition. But what became of the icon who scored the goal?
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Tshabalala has since written children’s books and is an active member of the FIFA Player Executive Programme. He also runs community initiatives, such as delivering school shoes to underprivileged children.
The former winger regularly participates in continental football legends’ events and, according to his Instagram, he recently attended Harvard Business School in Boston, USA. Although it’s unclear whether it’s on a permanent basis or for a brief visit.
Now 41, Tshabalala has spoken of his pride at scoring the legendary goal 16 years ago. Speaking to FIFA in 2020, he said: “That was always going to be the biggest goal in my career, no matter what came after, because it touched so many lives and brought joy to so many people. I’ll always love it – it’s beautiful – but the goal is bigger than me as an individual.
“Although it happened ten years ago, it still feels like yesterday because I get reminders and messages from people about it every single day. It’s very humbling. That goal was special at the time, it’s special today and, for me and a lot of other people, it will be special forever.”
On his technique for the goal, he said: “I actually thought at first about lobbing or chipping it because the keeper was off his line.
“Thankfully I thought twice and decided for power instead. And as I was about to hit it, the ball took a very slight bounce off the ground. That helped, I think, and the connection was so good that as soon as the ball left my foot I knew it was going in.
“I envisaged having a good game and scoring a goal. The celebration showed that actually because it was rehearsed. We knew we were going to score.”
View 2 ImagesSouth Africa announced themselves on the world stage during the 2010 World Cup(Image: (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images))
Tshabalala began his career with South African side Free State Stars. He later switched to the Kaizer Chiefs, where he played between 2007 and 2018.
A short stint in Turkey with BB Erzurumspor followed, after which he returned to his homeland to play for AmaZulu before retiring.
Tshabalala is an icon of the national team. He made his debut in a friendly against Egypt in January 2006 and was also part of the South African squad at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2006, 2008 and 2013, as well as the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.
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