Read 6 minutesUpdated: June 18, 2026 02:14 AM IST
with Portugal, their 1-1 draw against Democratic Republic of Congo Newcastle United striker Yone Visa scored a first-half injury-time equalizer for Congo to give Portugal the lead in the sixth minute of their Group K match at Houston Stadium in the country’s first FIFA World Cup match in 52 years.
In 2021, Visa suffered an acid attack at his home in Lorient, France, where he was playing for French club Lorient FC. The incident happened just days before he joined Premier League side Brentford for a record £8.5 million deal and it was later said that a woman, later identified as Leticia P, posed as a fan at his home to get his autograph and threw acid in the striker’s face. The woman was later said to have attempted to kidnap Visa’s daughter.
After the incident, Visa spoke to a court in Vance, Brittany about the incident and how he almost lost his sight. “I opened the door, and poured liquid on my face. I screamed and couldn’t breathe. My wife called the emergency services and they told me to get under the shower to wash my eyes. At the hospital they told me my eyes were burnt. Every hour someone had to come and wash them. It’s a nightmare. Since then I’ve been scared and every time I know my children are safe. I had surgery on both eyes and the doctor told me I’d have to use eye drops for the rest of my life.” The statement was made at a court in Vance, Brittany, The Sun reported.
Yone Visa (20) of Congo scores the first goal against Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa during the World Cup Group K soccer match between Portugal and Congo, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)
France-born Visa previously played for clubs such as Chateauroux, Angers, Laval, Ajaccio and Lorient before joining Brentford in September, 2021, a month after the acid attack incident. As court proceedings continued after the incident and Visa also appeared in the case, Latitia P was later found guilty and sentenced to 18 years in prison. Wisa went on to talk about how the incident had delayed his move to Brentford.
“It took me six months to get my vision back. Had I not been treated so quickly, the results would have been much worse. The days that followed were very traumatic for me. I know I will never feel the same. I want justice. Why did this happen to me? My wife and I will suffer the consequences for the rest of our lives. My Ford was delayed and I delayed. The manager I came to (Thomas Frank) said he sympathized with me and gave me time to adjust – But I was quickly injured because I reacted more than a footballer, and told me that I could not be blind. Children often ask me what I did to my face, but they are too young to tell me that I have been offered an operation, because it is part of my personal history,” Visa told the court.
Following the incident, Lorient’s then manager Christophe Pellisier visited the striker in hospital. “Although he was affected physically and mentally, Yone showed determination to succeed quickly. What struck me about him was his strong will and the fact that he never gave up,” Pelissier told the BBC.
Yone Wisa made a total of 149 appearances for Brentford from 2021 to 2025 and scored 49 goals. The striker then moved to Newcastle United for a fee expected to be close to £55 million. Due to a recurring knee injury, Wisa has since started just four Premier League matches for Newcastle, making a total of 13 league appearances for the club with just one goal.
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He also missed playing for Congo in the African Cup of Nations to play for his club. His only goal for the club came in his first game against Fulham wearing the number nine jersey worn by club legend Alan Shearer. After the match, Wise shared how he received a text message from Shearer. “It means a lot to me. I got a text message from him (Alan Shearer) before the game, he wished me well because he knew I was going to start. It’s something special. I know the number nine shirt is the best here, so I just want to enjoy it. There’s pressure with him, but it’s a privilege.” Visa told BBC Radio after the match.