Maccabi Tel Aviv winger Helio Varela scored his first-ever World Cup goal in Cape Verde’s dramatic 2-2 draw with Uruguay overnight between Sunday and Monday. It was also the first goal by a player from the Israeli Premier League at a World Cup since Moti Spiegler in 1970, and the first by a Maccabi Tel Aviv player in the tournament’s history.
Varela came off the bench and scored three minutes later, exploiting a communication breakdown between Uruguay’s center-backs. He needed only about three seconds to cover 30 meters, then finished from close range. The goal was rated as difficult for the chance it represented, with 0.4 xG, and in 32 minutes on the pitch he added one dribble and two passes while touching the ball just eight times.
Media reactions in Spain and elsewhere focused on the defensive error and on Varela’s pace. Reporter Luis Fernando Filho called him “a brave player” and said Cape Verde now depends only on itself to reach the next round, “not least thanks to him,” while AS blamed goalkeeper Fernando Muslera for “a serious mistake,” saying Varela merely took advantage of the gift. An English report cited an AI tool that identified Varela as exceptionally quick and dangerous in transition.
The performance may also affect his market value. Varela reached Israel after starting in amateur football in Portugal, advancing through the lower leagues to Portimonense and then spending one season at Gent before Maccabi Tel Aviv signed him. He is under contract until 2028, is valued by Transfermarkt at 2.5 million euros, up from 1.2 million when he arrived, and has already scored six goals and assisted three this season, including in the State Cup final. Varela said, “I dreamed of it, but I did not think it would happen. Not like this. To score my first goal for the national team at the World Cup? It’s amazing, there are no words.” Cape Verde is now projected to meet Mexico in the round of 32.
