Who is Yoane Wissa? Meet DR Congo goal scorer who made history for his nation at World Cup
Many tipped Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo to respond to Lionel Messi’s legendary hat trick vs. Algeria with a glistening performance of his own.
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Portugal kicked off its World Cup with 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.
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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 set off raptures at NRG Park in Houston.
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Who is Yoane Wissa?
Wissa is a striker who stars for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Premier League side Newcastle United. Born in France, Wissa, has been one of the Premier League’s better strikers in recent years. The 29-year-old got his start in France, landing with Ligue 2 side Lorient in 2018 after a brief spell at Angers.
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It was there that the Congolese forward came to life. Wissa tallied 37 goals in 128 appearances with Les Merlus. Wissa was promoted to Ligue 1 in Wissa’s final season with the club. He proceeded to record 10 goals in France’s top-flight, earning a move to Premier League upstarts Brentford as a result of his exploits.
Wissa spent four years with the London-based side. In his final two years at Brentford Community Centre, Wissa recorded 12 and 19 goals, respectively. His antics with the Bees earned him a legion of admirers, including Newcastle United. The Magpies shelled out £50 million plus add-ons to secure his services in Sept. 2025, handing him the coveted No. 9 shirt upon arrival. He scored three goals in 28 appearances with the side during his maiden season on Tyneside.
Wissa made his DRC debut in 2020. He has earned 38 caps with the side, scoring 10 goals. None are more noteworthy than his latest strike, a lofted header that leapt over Diogo Costa’s outstretched grasp.
DR CONGO HAS ITS FIRST-EVER FIFA WORLD CUP GOAL! 🇨🇩 pic.twitter.com/FSopuazQ08
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 17, 2026
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What team does Yoanne Wissa play for?
Wissa plies his trade for Newcastle United at club level. He arrived on the shores of Tyneside last summer, having previously starred for Brentford. After posting back-to-back double-digit-goal campaigns with the Bees, Wissa signed with the Magpies following a protracted transfer saga.
Newcastle spent £50 million plus add-ons to land him, hoping that he would help fill the void left after Alexander Isak’s switch to Liverpool. That didn’t quite happen; Wissa scored just one Premier League goal during the 2025-26 season. Nevertheless, if his exploits during DR Congo’s opener are any indication, he could be firing sooner rather than later.
Where is DR Congo?
DR Congo is located in Central Africa. By land area, the country is second-largest in the world. It is bordered by Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi to the east; the Republic of the Congo to the west, the Central African Republic and South Sudan to the north; and Zambia and Angola to the south.
DR Congo declared independence in 1964, having shaken out of the yoke of Belgian colonialism. The nation came to prominence on the international soccer scene in 1968, claiming the AFCON title with a 1-0 win over Ghana. The Leopards made their World Cup debut six years later, the same year they won their most recent AFCON crown.
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