Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha’s Instagram followers shoot up to 5.2 million
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Photo: Reuters
Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha delivered one of the most memorable performances of the FIFA World Cup on Monday, guiding his team to a historic goalless draw against European champions Spain in their first-ever appearance at the tournament.
The 40-year-old goalkeeper stood firm throughout the match, making several important saves as Spain controlled possession and produced 27 attempts on goal. Even the introduction of Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal in the second half failed to break down Cape Verde’s resilient defence.
At the end of the match, an emotional Vozinha was seen in tears near his goal before being surrounded and embraced by his teammates. The result marked a landmark achievement for Cape Verde, which secured a valuable point against one of the tournament favourites, Maktoob Media reported.
The draw represented the culmination of a long journey for the veteran goalkeeper. Vozinha began his professional career at the age of 25 with Angolan club Progresso before moving across leagues in Moldova, Cyprus, Slovakia and Portugal. He currently plays for Chaves in Portugal’s second tier.
Having joined Cape Verde’s national team in 2012, Vozinha continued chasing the dream of playing at a World Cup despite previously considering stepping away from international football.
After the match, he said the moment represented the reward for a lifetime of hard work and the fulfilment of a dream shared by many generations of Cape Verde players who had never reached the global stage.
The occasion was made more emotional by the absence of his mother, who could not travel to the United States because of visa-related issues. Vozinha said he wished she could have been present to witness the achievement.
His remarkable display also triggered a huge surge in his online popularity. Before the match, Vozinha had fewer than 45,000 followers on Instagram, but his following rose dramatically after his heroics, crossing 1.5 million by the time of his post-match media appearance and later exceeding 5.2 million.
Known by the nickname Vozinha after sharing the same first name as another player early in his career, the goalkeeper’s performance transformed him into one of the tournament’s biggest breakout figures.
