René Higuita on Colombia after Davinson's VAR meme storm
After VAR canceled Davinson Sánchez's late header in Colombia's 0-0 World Cup draw with Portugal, Colombian fans turned the millimeter offside on his boot tip into viral memes. René Higuita told Betsson the squad can still reach a final if it believes, while Sánchez urged calm: there is nothing to celebrate yet.
Colombia's Group K finale against Portugal at the 2026 World Cup produced one of the tournament's sharpest VAR debates and one of its fastest meme cycles. The moment mattered because a validated goal would have given Colombia a win and reinforced first place in the group under coach Néstor Lorenzo.
Key Takeaways
- VAR canceled Davinson Sánchez's 90+1 header after detecting offside by the tip of his boot, not his body or head.
- Colombian fans responded with humor, joking about shoe sizes, toenails, and edited VAR boot images.
- René Higuita told Betsson that Colombia can reach a World Cup final if the squad truly believes.
- Davinson Sánchez urged temperance, telling El Espectador that there is still nothing to celebrate.
- Despite the 0-0, Colombia finished first in Group K and advanced to face Ghana in the round of 16.
Why was Davinson Sánchez's goal against Portugal disallowed?
According to El Colombiano, the controversy unfolded at 90+1 when Juan Fernando Quintero swung a cross into Portugal's box. Davinson Sánchez rose at the far post and headed what looked like a 1-0 winner for Colombia.
An Australian assistant referee raised the flag for offside. After a VAR review, the decision stood. El Colombiano reported that Sánchez was ruled offside not by his torso, leg, or head, but by the tip of his boot—described as offside "almost by a nail."
How did Colombia fans turn the VAR call into memes?
Indignation quickly mixed with humor online. El Colombiano documented memes imagining Sánchez shoe shopping, with fans joking he buys a size up so cleats "do not wear out too fast," and that extra length caused the offside.
Other posts focused on his toenails, suggesting that trimming them before kickoff might have kept the goal valid. Users also edited VAR-style images of boots seen on referee screens, turning a painful call into shareable comedy.
What did René Higuita say about Colombia's World Cup chances?
While memes spread, Colombian icon René Higuita offered a longer-view message in a Betsson interview with journalist Talía Azcárate. He said he sees Colombia with strong potential and good football in this World Cup cycle.
"If we believe the story, we can be in a World Cup final," Higuita said, adding that his generation lacked the international experience today's players already carry. Betsson listed Colombia as favorite against Ghana in the round of 16, with longer odds still pricing a title run as possible.
Why is Davinson Sánchez urging calm despite the controversy?
El Espectador profiled the Galatasaray defender as a settled leader in Colombia's back line and one of the team's spokespeople. In July 2026, he offered a measured reply to the hype around the Portugal game and the viral "piecito" moment.
"There is still nothing to celebrate," Sánchez said, according to El Espectador. That temperance fits a squad trying to convert group-stage momentum into a deeper run. For readers tracking mindset and performance under pressure, similar themes appear in our Longevity & Biohacking coverage.
Colombia left the Portugal match at 0-0 but still topped Group K. The next test is Ghana in the round of 16—a stage where belief, composure, and execution matter more than any meme.