When Spain faced 67th-ranked Cabo Verde in the FIFA rankings on Monday, the matchup was widely expected to be one-sided, with La Roja anticipated to secure a comfortable victory in their Group H opener of FIFA World Cup.
However, expectations quickly began to fade as the match stayed goalless at halftime, and Spain were ultimately unable to break the deadlock, with the game finishing 0-0 after 90 minutes.
Despite Spain controlling over 60% possession and registering more than 20 shots, Cabo Verde held firm throughout the match, refusing to concede, and much of that resilience came down to their towering presence between the posts.
Vozinha’s fandom explodes after Spain clash
Cape Verdean goalkeeper Vozinha stood out as the brightest performer in the Group H opener, producing seven crucial saves to keep Cabo Verde level throughout the match.
His heroics helped the African side, making their World Cup debut, secure a remarkable result against the 2010 world champions and begin their campaign with a dream start.
Vozinha’s standout display not only saw him claim the Man of the Match award on the pitch, but its impact was also strongly felt beyond the field.
The 40-year-old goalkeeper, who reportedly had around 50,000 Instagram followers before the Spain vs Cape Verde clash, saw his popularity explode after the 90-minute performance.
His social media following surged past the one-million mark, completely transforming his online presence in a single match.
At the time of writing, he already boasts 2.3 million Instagram followers, with the number continuing to rise rapidly.
History made after long journey for Vozinha
Vozinha, whose full name is Josimar Dias, also made history by becoming the oldest goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet on his World Cup debut.
Born Josimar José Évora Dias in Mindelo, Cape Verde, Vozinha’s journey to the World Cup was anything but direct.
The goalkeeper spent much of his career working his way through lesser-known leagues in Cape Verde, Moldova, Romania, Cyprus, and Portugal, far removed from the global spotlight enjoyed by football’s elite.
Despite those challenges, he remained a steady presence for his national side and built a reputation as one of Cape Verde’s most dependable players.
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Currently with Portuguese club Chaves, Vozinha arrived at the tournament carrying close to 15 years of international experience. However, even after debuting for Cape Verde in 2012, he had never had the chance to feature on football’s biggest stage.
That long-awaited opportunity finally came against Spain, and it did so in a way that ensured his name will be remembered for years to come.
