61 days to the World Cup: The goal that turned Robin van Persie into the 'Flying Dutchman'

Sean LeahySat, April 11, 2026 at 11:00 AM UTC

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The countdown to the 2026 World Cup is on! Each day ahead of the tournament’s return to North America, Yahoo Sports will highlight an insight or moment that showcases just how grand the world’s biggest sporting spectacle has become — even beyond the expanded field of this year’s global event.

Only once in Puskás Award history has a single World Cup provided two finalists for the honor of best goal in the world.

It happened in 2014 when Colombia’s James Rodríguez won with his wonderstrike against Uruguay in the Round of 16. The goal that finished third that year came off the head of Dutch striker Robin van Persie during Holland's opening match of the World Cup.

Spain could not keep their 1-0 lead until halftime. That's when Daley Blind sent a long ball leading van Persie into the penalty box. The Dutch captain would then throw himself at the ball and put it over goalkeeper Iker Casillas' head and into the net to equalize.

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The 5-1 win helped the Oranje exact a measure of revenge against Spain, who had defeated them in the 2010 World Cup final. The four-goal difference was the biggest losing margin for a defending champion in World Cup history and the second-biggest World Cup defeat ever for Spain. It also marked the beginning of a forgettable tournament for La Roja, who exited following the group stage.

"It is the best goal of my career,” van Persie said afterward. “It was a brilliant goal -- even I have to say that.

"I look at the occasion, and this was one of the biggest so far in my career. It was a bit of a gamble, but I spotted Casillas off his line before the cross came in. It was a header, but a lobbed header -- a great goal."

The Dutch would make a run to the semifinals before falling to Argentina in penalty kicks. In the third-place game, they would out-class Brazil 3-0.

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Source: “AOL Sports”