Who is Stephen Eustáquio? Canada midfielder who scored vs South Africa in FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32

Stephen Eustáquio has scripted history by guiding Canada to the Round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup.

Canada has defeated South Africa 1-0 to advance to the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The game remained level for 90 minutes, and the only factor separating the two teams was the game’s only goal, which came in added time.

Stephen Eustáquio scored in the added time (90+2′). The 29-year-old has become the first Canadian football player to score in a knockout game of the FIFA World Cup. Les Rouges’ fairy-tale run as the tournament hosts continues as they have outclassed South Africa by the narrowest of margins at the Los Angeles Stadium.

Stephen Eustáquio profile

• Age: 29
• Position: Central Midfield
• Club: Los Angeles FC (On loan from Porto)

Stephen Eustáquio was born on December 21, 1996, in Leamington, Ontario, Canada, to Portuguese parents. He started playing football at the local academy of Leamington MS before he became a part of Nazarenos.

Eustáquio made his senior debut in 2013 for Nazarenos. Later in 2015, he joined S.C.U Torreense and, in the subsequent seasons, served brief spells at Leixões S.C., G.D. Chaves, Cruz Azul, and more.

Also Read: FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32: Full list of matches, bracket & potential round of 16 games

However, after a brief stint at Porto in 2022, Stephen Eustáquio earned a move to the Portuguese giants. The 29-year-old made 156 appearances for Porto across all competitions, scoring 12 goals and providing 11 assists.

Earlier this year, he joined Los Angeles FC on loan from Porto. He only made 14 appearances for LAFC.

Talking about Eustáquio’s international career, despite being born in Canada, he represented Portugal at the youth level. It was 2019 when he finally decided to commit to his long-term professional career in Canada. Later that year, he made his senior debut for Les Rouges.

He also played a crucial role in guiding his side to the semi-finals of the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup while helping them qualify for two FIFA World Cups and the 2024 Copa América. For Canada, Stephen Eustáquio has earned 60 caps and has scored five goals.

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