Wilton Pereira Sampaio awarded man of the match in Mexico vs South Africa

During the FIFA World Cup opener on June 11, 2026, Wilton Pereira Sampaio officiated the match between Mexico and South Africa. The Brazilian referee became the focal point of discussions after issuing three red cards, leaving South Africa with nine players. Sampaio's controversial decisions drew attention reminiscent of his previous tournament appearances, particularly at the 2022 World Cup. Reactions on social media hailed him as the 'man of the match' due to his impactful officiating. The match remains ongoing as teams work to capitalize on the referee's bold calls.

• 9:29 PMYahoo Sports — P-R-O-T-A-G-O-N-I-S-T-A-! Wilton Pereira Sampaio goes viral in 🇲🇽 v 🇿🇦