52 days to go…
We’re counting down to the FIFA World Cup 2026™ by showcasing a golazo from the global finals each day.
Bakary Kone
Netherlands v Côte d’Ivoire
Germany 2006 | Group C
Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion, Stuttgart
He was, at 1.63 metres, the shortest player in Germany, but Bakary Kone packed a punch in his right boot. The giant Edwin van der Sar can back that up.
The Ivorian winger, on his first World Cup start, stylishly took a Didier Zokora free-kick on the spin, buzzed away from John Heitinga and Joris Mathijsen, and thumped the ball into the top corner of the Dutch goalkeeper’s net.
“It was an incredible strike,” said Van Der Sar. “It will be hard to beat that.”
The Netherlands ultimately won 2-1 to KO Côte d’Ivoire, but Kone’s thump will live long in the memory of Ivorians.
