Who is Yoane Wissa? Meet DR Congo goal scorer who made history for his nation at World Cup

Yoane Wissa’s late first-half header against Portugal at the World Cup in Houston delivered a historic milestone for the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The 29-year-old forward rose to meet a cross near the six-yard box, guiding the ball into the top corner past Diogo Costa. The strike briefly overshadowed Cristiano Ronaldo and sparked celebrations among fans at NRG Park on Wednesday afternoon. Born in France, Wissa began with Angers and then starred for Lorient in Ligue 2 in 2018, scoring 37 goals in 128 appearances to earn promotion to Ligue 1. He spent four years at Brentford, tallying 12 goals in his first season and 19 in his final campaign before Newcastle United signed him for £50 million plus add-ons in September 2025, handing him the No. 9 shirt. Since then, he has made 28 appearances for Newcastle with three goals, debuted for the DRC in 2020, and has 38 caps with 10 goals. Wissa’s World Cup moment reinforces his status as one of Africa’s top finishers in recent years, elevating his profile on a global stage and underscoring the DRC’s potential in the tournament.