Greece's men's water polo team won its first World Cup title Saturday, defeating Hungary 15-14 in a dramatic final in Sydney that ended an 18-medal drought without a major tournament victory, including five previous final losses.
Dimitris Skoumbakis scored a career-best five goals, while Stelios Argyropoulos netted the decisive goal just 12 seconds before the final buzzer under coach Thodoris Vlachos.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis congratulated the team in a post on X, calling the victory "golden history" for a sport that has long delivered strong emotions and international honors for Greece. "Thodoris Vlachos and his players showed what passion, persistence and a winning mentality mean. Congratulations! Always worthy," he wrote.
The triumph caps a long-awaited breakthrough for a Greek program that has repeatedly finished as a bridesmaid at major tournaments over the years, cementing 2026 as a landmark season for the national team.