Abdoulaye Seck honors late son in emotional World Cup celebration, but FIFA credits teammate with the goal
Abdoulaye Seck, the defender recently released by Maccabi Haifa, produced an emotional moment in Toronto on Friday during Senegal’s match against Iraq at the 2026 World Cup. After what appeared to be Senegal’s opening goal, he lifted his shirt to reveal a photo of himself with his son, along with the word “Forever,” a tribute to the child he lost in a painful personal tragedy in summer 2024.
The gesture drew widespread attention and moved spectators on one of football’s biggest stages. Seck’s celebration was tied directly to the loss of his son last year, and it was presented as a personal dedication rather than a standard goal celebration.
Shortly afterward, FIFA revised the scoring record and credited the goal to Habib Diarra instead. Under the official match data, Seck was listed as the assist provider, not the scorer. Even so, the celebration remained the emotional highlight of the moment and resonated broadly with viewers.
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