Julio Enciso put his head on a cross in the 42nd minute and changed football history. Paraguay beat Germany 1-1 (4-3 on penalties) in the Round of 32 at FIFA World Cup 2026 on June 29, 2026. A 22-year-old from a small Paraguayan town walked into Gillette Stadium in Foxborough and became the story of the tournament overnight.
Who Is Julio Enciso and Why Does He Matter?
Julio Enciso is a 22-year-old attacking midfielder from Caaguazú, Paraguay, currently playing for Ligue 1 club Strasbourg. He is one of the most exciting young South American talents in world football right now.
His background makes this World Cup moment even more special. He grew up in a modest town in eastern Paraguay, played on local pitches as a kid, and caught the eye of scouts at Club Libertad when he was just 12. By 15, he was already a professional footballer. By 16, he was breaking Copa Libertadores records. By 22, he was sending Germany out of a World Cup.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Julio César Enciso Espínola |
| Date of Birth | January 23, 2004 |
| Age | 22 |
| Birthplace | Caaguazú, Paraguay |
| Position | Attacking Midfielder / Left Winger |
| Current Club | Strasbourg (Ligue 1) |
| International Caps | 27+ (Paraguay) |
| Market Value | €22 million |
He signed for Brighton & Hove Albion in June 2022 for £9.5 million. In his first full season, he scored a 25-yard curler against Manchester City that won both the BBC Goal of the Season and the Premier League Goal of the Season. That single moment told the world everything it needed to know about what Enciso is capable of. In September 2025, he joined Strasbourg for £17 million, with Brighton keeping a sell-on clause.
What Happened in Germany vs Paraguay at World Cup 2026?
Germany vs Paraguay ended 1-1 after 120 minutes, with Paraguay winning 4-3 on penalties at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, on June 29, 2026. It is one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history and Germany’s first-ever penalty shootout defeat at a World Cup.
The match was a tactical battle from the first whistle. Julian Nagelsmann set Germany up in a 4-2-3-1 with Manuel Neuer in goal, Joshua Kimmich and Antonio Rüdiger anchoring the defence, and Kai Havertz leading the attack. Paraguay packed the midfield, played a compact 4-5-1, and waited for their moment.
That moment came from Julio Enciso.
How Did Paraguay Score Against Germany?
Paraguay scored through Julio Enciso in the 42nd minute with a header from a Matías Galarza cross. Miguel Almirón put the ball into the box from the right, Galarza picked it up and whipped in a cross, and Enciso found himself completely unmarked inside the area. He timed his run perfectly, got above the German defenders, and headed past Neuer.
Germany had 79% possession in the first half yet still found themselves a goal down at halftime. That stat tells you exactly what Paraguay’s gameplan was: sit deep, stay organised, and punish on the break.
How Did Germany Equalise?
Germany drew level in the 54th minute through a Kai Havertz header. Florian Wirtz cut in from the left and delivered a dangerous cross to the near post. Havertz read the flight perfectly and glanced the ball into the far corner. It was Germany’s first genuine chance of the second half, and they took it immediately.
From that point, Germany pushed hard for a winner. They dominated territory and created several good chances. But Orlando Gill, Paraguay’s goalkeeper, kept refusing to be beaten.
What Happened in Extra Time?
Extra time brought more German pressure and one massive controversy. Jonathan Tah headed home what looked like a winning goal from a Nathaniel Brown corner, but VAR intervened. The goal was disallowed because Waldemar Anton had fouled goalkeeper Orlando Gill in the build-up. Germany were furious.
In the 119th minute, Gill pulled off another extraordinary save, denying Anton from point-blank range at a corner. Germany threw everything at Paraguay and came away with nothing. After 120 minutes, it went to penalties.
How Did the Penalty Shootout Go?
The penalty shootout was absolutely wild. Paraguay won 4-3 in what became the first penalty shootout loss in Germany’s entire World Cup history.
| Kick | Germany | Paraguay |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Havertz — SAVED by Gill | Gómez — SCORED |
| 2nd | Kimmich — SCORED | Sanabria — MISSED |
| 3rd | Musiala — SCORED | Balbuena — SAVED by Neuer |
| 4th | Woltemade — SAVED by Gill | Scored |
| 5th | Tah — OVER THE BAR | Canale — SCORED (winner) |
Gill saved two penalties and kept his nerve throughout. Germany blew three spot-kicks in total: Havertz was stopped low to his left, Woltemade was denied by another Gill save, and Tah skied his effort well over the crossbar. José Canale stepped up last, planted his shot into the net, and Paraguay’s players ran wild.
Neuer had kept Germany alive by saving from Antonio Sanabria and Fabián Balbuena, pushing the shootout to sudden death. But Tah’s miss ended it.
Why Is This Result So Significant?
This result sits among the biggest shocks in World Cup history for several reasons.
For Paraguay, it ended a 24-year drought at the knockout stage. Their previous five World Cup knockout appearances produced zero goals. Their only knockout-stage goal before this came in a loss to Germany in 2002. Now, against the same opponent, they scored, survived, and progressed.
For Germany, a four-time world champion with arguably the strongest squad depth in Europe right now, losing to a team ranked 41st in the world on penalties is a brutal result. They had more of the ball, more shots, and more chances. None of it mattered.
This is what makes football so special.
Julio Enciso’s Career Timeline: From Caaguazú to World Cup Hero
You need to understand where Enciso came from to appreciate what he did on June 29.
- 2019: Debuts for Club Libertad at 15 years old, becoming the club’s youngest-ever player
- 2020: Scores in the Copa Libertadores at 16 years and 307 days, becoming the youngest scorer in the competition in the 21st century
- 2021: Makes his senior Paraguay debut at 17 years old in a Copa América win over Bolivia
- 2022: Signs for Brighton & Hove Albion for £9.5 million
- 2023: Wins BBC Goal of the Season and Premier League Goal of the Season for his strike against Manchester City
- 2025 (Jan): Joins Ipswich Town on loan, scores twice in 13 appearances
- 2025 (Sep): Permanently joins Strasbourg for £17 million
- 2026: Scores the goal that eliminates Germany from the World Cup
In the 2025-26 Ligue 1 season before the World Cup, Enciso recorded 3 goals and 6 assists in 1,892 minutes for Strasbourg. His form had been building steadily. The World Cup stage simply gave him the biggest audience of his career so far.
He was also recognised in 2024 by the Centre International d’Etude du Sport (CIES) as the second-best under-21 player in the world in creativity and effectiveness in finishing plays. Only Rayan Cherki ranked above him. His score was 78.7 out of 100.
One thing worth noting: Enciso had to leave the field in the 57th minute against Germany due to a muscular injury. Paraguay held on without their best attacker for the final 63+ minutes of football. That says as much about the team’s resilience as it does about Enciso’s individual contribution.
Orlando Gill: The Goalkeeper Who Made It Happen
You cannot tell the story of this match without talking about Orlando Gill. The Paraguay goalkeeper made several crucial saves during the 120 minutes and then saved two penalties in the shootout.
He denied Havertz in the first kick, then came up big again to stop Woltemade. When Germany needed goals, he kept saying no. His performance was the second pillar of this upset alongside Enciso’s goal.
At 40 years old, Manuel Neuer was doing everything he could on the other end, saving from Sanabria and Balbuena to keep Germany alive. But Gill was just better on the night.
What Happens Next for Paraguay?
Paraguay advance to the Round of 16, where they face the winner of France vs Sweden. That is an enormous challenge. France entered this tournament as the No.1 ranked team in the world. But Paraguay have now shown they are not here just to make up the numbers.
Their defensive shape is organised and hard to break. Their goalkeeper is in the form of his life. And somewhere, Julio Enciso is icing a muscle injury and hoping he returns in time.
If he does, Paraguay’s story gets even more interesting.
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FAQ: Julio Enciso and Paraguay vs Germany World Cup 2026
What goal did Julio Enciso score against Germany?
Julio Enciso scored a header in the 42nd minute of Paraguay vs Germany at FIFA World Cup 2026. He met a cross from Matías Galarza completely unmarked inside the penalty area and directed the ball past Manuel Neuer. It was Paraguay’s first-ever goal in a World Cup knockout stage and the opening goal of one of the tournament’s biggest upsets.
How did Paraguay beat Germany on penalties?
Paraguay won the penalty shootout 4-3. Goalkeeper Orlando Gill saved from Kai Havertz and Nick Woltemade. Jonathan Tah blazed his penalty over the crossbar. Paraguay’s José Canale scored the decisive kick in sudden death. It marked the first time in history that Germany lost a penalty shootout at a World Cup, despite Neuer saving from Sanabria and Balbuena to keep the Germans alive.
Which club does Julio Enciso play for in 2026?
Julio Enciso plays for Strasbourg in Ligue 1 as of 2026. He joined the French club in September 2025 for £17 million from Brighton & Hove Albion, with Brighton keeping a sell-on clause. In the 2025-26 Ligue 1 season before the World Cup, he scored 3 goals and provided 6 assists in 1,892 minutes of play.
How old is Julio Enciso and where is he from?
Julio Enciso was born on January 23, 2004, in Caaguazú, Paraguay. He is 22 years old. He began his professional career at Club Libertad at just 15 years old, becoming the youngest player in the club’s history. At 16, he became the youngest scorer in the Copa Libertadores in the 21st century.
Why was Jonathan Tah’s goal disallowed against Paraguay?
Jonathan Tah’s goal in extra time was disallowed after a VAR review. The decision came because Waldemar Anton had fouled Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill in the build-up to the corner from which Tah headed the ball into the net. Germany were convinced the goal would stand, making the disallowance one of the most painful moments of their campaign.
Is Julio Enciso injured after the Germany match?
Enciso was substituted in the 57th minute of the Germany match due to a muscular injury. His availability for Paraguay’s Round of 16 fixture is uncertain. The timing of the injury is a major concern for Paraguay’s coaching staff, as Enciso was their most dangerous attacking player before he left the field.
Final Verdict: A Night That Changes How the World Sees Paraguay
Julio Enciso gave Paraguay a goal. Orlando Gill gave Paraguay a clean sheet in the shootout. And the entire Paraguayan team gave their country a moment they will never forget.
Germany brought a squad full of Premier League and Bundesliga stars. They had more of the ball, more chances, and more experience at this level. Paraguay had better organisation, better goalkeeping, and one perfectly timed header from a 22-year-old who grew up playing on the dusty pitches of Caaguazú.
That is what football does. It rewards the brave.
Enciso’s story is far from over. Whether he makes it back for the Round of 16 or not, he has already written himself into World Cup folklore. The kid from Caaguazú headed Germany out of a World Cup. Not bad for a Tuesday night in June.
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