Andrés Cantor's voice has defined the World Cup for generations of soccer fans

Andrés Cantor’s voice has defined World Cup moments for generations, with a widely shared scene showing how quickly a signature call can become real-time chaos. The Telemundo broadcaster took a deep breath and shouted “Gooooal!” as Lionel Messi’s shot crossed the line, but Cantor couldn’t hear himself during Argentina’s 16th-round match after the crowd surged inside Atlanta’s domed stadium. He told NPR’s Scott Simon that the noise “got into my headset,” and the moment became the defining call of his 10th World Cup. It briefly cost him his voice as he was still recovering while speaking to NPR. Born in Argentina, Cantor says he didn’t invent the elongated “Gooooal,” instead recalling how he learned it from radio. He credits timing for bringing Spanish-language passion into the U.S. spotlight during the 1994 tournament, and highlights Argentina’s 2022 final against France as especially emotional.