Some players wait years for a World Cup moment. Nilson Angulo needed nine minutes.

The 22-year-old forward scored Ecuador’s first goal of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on June 25, firing a long-range effort past Germany’s goalkeeper to level the Group E match at MetLife Stadium. Ecuador went on to win 2-1, and Angulo walked away with the FIFA Man of the Match award for his performance.

What happened on the pitch

Germany drew first blood through Leroy Sané in the early going. Angulo’s strike in the 9th minute cancelled out Sané’s opener and completely shifted the energy of the match.

Ecuador’s winning margin came courtesy of Gonzalo Plata, who netted in the 77th minute to seal a result that few outside South America saw coming.

Who is Nilson Angulo

Angulo is a Sunderland AFC forward who joined the English club from Belgian side Anderlecht in January 2026 for a reported base fee of £15 million, with additional add-ons built into the deal.

He arrived at the Stadium of Light carrying 12 caps for Ecuador heading into the World Cup squad announcement in early June 2026.

What this means going forward

Sunderland’s ownership and sporting directors will be paying close attention. A player who scores a World Cup goal against Germany in the group stage becomes significantly harder to retain without a substantial contract upgrade. The £15 million base fee Sunderland paid starts to look like a floor rather than a ceiling.