Viral goalkeeper gains millions of followers after extraordinary defence against Spain
Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha gained million of new Instagram followers after his memorable performance against Spain during their FIFA World Cup match on Monday, 15 June.
Vozinha became an overnight sensation after making his historic World Cup debut against Spain.
His Instagram following skyrocketed from 50,000 to more than seven million after his heroic performance.
The 40-year-old made seven crucial saves in Monday’s 0-0 draw in Atlanta, denying one of the tournament favourites.
Vozinha’s masterclass also saw him become the oldest goalkeeper in World Cup history to keep a clean sheet on his tournament debut.
His viral fame has brought attention to Cape Verde, one of the smallest nations by population to qualify for a World Cup.
“I am very proud. For me, it is a massive honour to represent my country on this stage,” Vozinha told reporters.
“We are from a small nation. Our qualification route was incredibly difficult in a group alongside Cameroon and Libya, but we knew that if we strictly followed the coach’s tactical plan, we had a genuine opportunity to compete.
“The dream has come true. We went toe-to-toe with Spain, one of the best teams in the world. We are over the moon and so proud of all the players and the people of Cape Verde.”
Vozinha also became emotional after the final whistle because he was unable to celebrate the special moment with his family.
“I cried because I grew up with my grandparents, and unfortunately, they passed away a few years ago. They did absolutely everything for me throughout my life.
“Also, my mum didn’t manage to be here because of a visa issue. The finances for the visa application didn’t come together in time, and I would have loved for her to be in the stands. But I am still very happy and filled with joy for all the Cape Verdean people,” he added.
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