Belgium come back from 0-2 to knock Senegal out with a Tielemans goal at 120+5 — 2026 World Cup

The latest goal in World Cup history. At Lumen Field in Seattle, Belgium were losing 2-0, had created almost nothing, and still turned the game around in three minutes at the end of the second half — before deciding it in extra time. Lukaku pulled one back at 86, Tielemans equalized at 89 with a header and the same Tielemans converted a controversial penalty at 120+5 to send Belgium through to the round of 16.

For Senegal, a cruel exit after dominating almost the entire match. For Belgium, one of the most dramatic comebacks ever seen at a World Cup.

The first ever meeting

Before this World Cup, Belgium and Senegal had never played each other — neither competitively nor in a friendly. The game in Seattle was the inaugural encounter, and it could not have started with a more dramatic script.

Belgium in the knockouts: the golden generation refuses to say goodbye

Belgium's 'Golden Generation' has been living in World Cup knockouts for a decade. Quarterfinals in 2014, third place in 2018 and a painful group-stage exit in 2022. In 2026, De Bruyne, Lukaku and Tielemans are back — and showed they still know how to turn games that look lost.

Senegal in the knockouts: short history full of peaks

Senegal made history in 2002, reaching the quarterfinals on their World Cup debut and eliminating reigning champions France in the group stage. They returned to the knockouts in 2022 and again in 2026. This time, they dominated for 80 minutes, watched the win slip in stoppage time and fell in extra time.

How the match unfolded

A shocking stat: Senegal produced 3.54 xG to Belgium's 1.80. They deserved to win comfortably. Diarra opened at 24 and Ismaïla Sarr made it 2-0 at 51. It felt like the sentence.

At 86, Lukaku popped up inside the box, in the finest classic-striker fashion, and pulled one back. Three minutes later, Tielemans rose unmarked from a corner and headed the equalizer. Extra time. And, in the last play of the second extra period, the referee pointed to the spot with a controversial call. Tielemans slotted it down the middle, calmly, and wrote his name into history — 120+5.

Senegal left Lumen Field feeling defeated by the clock. Belgium go through knowing they need to play much better to avoid the same lesson in the round of 16.

Match facts

• 24' — Habib Diarra (SEN), left-wing move
• 51' — Ismaïla Sarr (SEN), 2-0
• 86' — Romelu Lukaku (BEL), 2-1
• 89' — Youri Tielemans (BEL), header from a corner — 2-2
• 120+5' — Youri Tielemans (BEL), penalty — latest goal in World Cup history

Belgium's standouts

Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa, 29). Captain since September 2025, Europa League winner in 2026 and now scorer of the latest goal in World Cup history. Got the equalizer and the winner.

Romelu Lukaku (Napoli, 33). Belgium's all-time top scorer with 90 goals in 124 games. When Belgium were down and out, he sparked the comeback.

Kevin De Bruyne (Napoli, 35). Likely his last World Cup. It was he who created the gaps Lukaku and Tielemans used in the final 15 minutes.

Senegal's standouts

Sadio Mané (Al-Hilal, 34). Senegal's all-time top scorer with 53 goals in 126 games. Best player at the last Africa Cup of Nations. He was the one who troubled the Belgian defense most.

Ismaïla Sarr (Olympique de Marseille, 27). Scored the 2-0. Explosive and versatile up front, one of Senegal's best players at the tournament.

Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham, 23). Midfield engine. Controlled the tempo while Senegal were ahead.

Market value

Jeremy Doku (Manchester City) is Belgium's most valuable player at €75M. The Belgian squad totals over €547M. On the Senegalese side, Iliman Ndiaye (Everton) leads at €55M, and the full squad tops €478M — the most expensive among African sides at the World Cup.

Next opponent: USA

In the round of 16, Belgium face the USA again — the same fixture as 2014, when they beat the Americans 2-1 in extra time. Twelve years later, the hosts want revenge. Follow it all here at Guriball.