Quang Hai once accomplished what Ronaldo failed to do at the 2026 World Cup.

Quang Hai once netted past Lionel Mpasi-Nzau, the same keeper who just earned a draw with DR Congo against Portugal in the 2026 World Cup.

While global football fans focus on Lionel Mpasi-Nzau's performances for DR Congo at the 2026 World Cup, Vietnamese fans unexpectedly recall a special milestone of Nguyen Quang Hai. The 1997-born midfielder once scored against this very goalkeeper while playing in France's Ligue 2.

That memorable moment took place on October 9, 2022, during the match between Pau FC and Rodez AF in round 11 of the 2022/23 Ligue 2 season. It was also the only goal Quang Hai scored during his time in France. After a clever run to beat the offside trap, the Vietnamese football star calmly finished past the opposing goalkeeper in a one-on-one situation, helping Pau FC secure a 2-2 draw.

What makes it special is that the man between the posts for Rodez AF that day was none other than Lionel Mpasi-Nzau. The 1994-born goalkeeper now plays for DR Congo and recently attracted attention at the 2026 World Cup by holding Portugal to a draw with his teammates. The fact that Quang Hai once scored past a goalkeeper now appearing at the biggest football event on the planet has become an intriguing story for Vietnamese fans.

Lionel Mpasi-Nzau was not a particularly prominent name in the early years of his career. He was part of PSG's youth teams before moving to Toulouse, but mostly served as a backup. It was not until he joined Rodez AF in 2019 that he gained regular playing time and gradually proved his abilities in Ligue 2.

After several seasons with Rodez AF, Lionel Mpasi-Nzau made a significant step forward by moving to Le Havre to play in Ligue 1 for the 2025/26 season. Although he hasn't featured much at club level, he has retained the trust of DR Congo's coaching staff. Since his national team debut in 2022, the 32-year-old goalkeeper has earned nearly 30 caps and become a familiar choice in goal.

In the 1-1 draw against Portugal at the 2026 World Cup, Lionel Mpasi-Nzau continued to be a notable figure. The African team made Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates work hard to salvage a valuable point. In that context, the memory of Quang Hai's goal against this goalkeeper nearly four years ago becomes even more special, serving as a memorable mark of the Vietnamese player's journey in Europe.