Derrick Luckassen Makes History Scoring in World Cup Debut for Ghana

Derrick Luckassen, former Maccabi Tel Aviv defender, made history during Ghana's 2-1 loss to Croatia in the 2026 World Cup group stage. In his debut for the Ghana national team, Luckassen scored a crucial equalizer in the 73rd minute from a free kick delivered by Ernest Nuamah. Despite a lengthy VAR review for offside, the goal was confirmed by referee Drew Fischer, marking a significant personal milestone for Luckassen.

Luckassen, who currently plays for Cypriot club Pafos and has scored six goals this season, demonstrated his set-piece expertise on the world stage. Although Ghana ultimately lost the match, Luckassen’s goal secured a unique record alongside his brother, Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey. The siblings became the first pair of brothers to score in the World Cup for two different national teams, with Brobbey netting three goals for the Netherlands in the same tournament.

This achievement also highlights a broader trend, as the Luckassen/Brobbey brothers are among five sibling pairs participating in the 2026 World Cup, with six of the ten players involved born in the Netherlands. Reflecting on the game, Luckassen expressed mixed feelings, saying, "It was a nice feeling, but I’m a bit disappointed with the loss." He analyzed Ghana’s performance, noting a lack of effective possession in the first half and improved attacking pressure in the second.

The match and Luckassen’s historic goal add a memorable chapter to the 2026 World Cup narrative, emphasizing both personal and familial milestones amid the global competition.