-
Ed Dove
Multiple Authors
It’s never too late to achieve greatness in life. Just ask Cape Verde‘s Vozinha.
On Monday, Vozinha, a 40-year-old goalkeeper with an unassuming career spanning 19 years, awoke with little fanfare. His journey has included over 200 matches (though many remain unrecorded) across Portugal, Cape Verde, Moldova, Angola, Cyprus, and Slovakia. He boasts just one trophy to his name: the 2018-19 Cypriot Cup with AEL Limassol, and he has proudly donned the Cape Verde jersey since 2012.
This World Cup marks Cape Verde’s inaugural appearance, serving as the crowning moment of Vozinha’s career. “This is the most significant moment of our lives,” he shared with ESPN Brasil ahead of the tournament. On Monday, as they faced Spain in their opening match, it became a defining day for him.
After facing 27 shots and making seven saves over 90 minutes, Vozinha’s life transformed dramatically. He received the man of the match award and was moved to tears upon the final whistle. His Instagram following skyrocketed from 56,000 to 5 million, making him one of the World Cup’s early standout stories.
“He was overwhelmed with emotions,” said Cape Verde manager Bubista. “He is seasoned and has battled for years to reach this world stage. It was a moment of resilience.”
Who is Vozinha, and what is his story?
Born in Mindelo, Cape Verde, a town with a population of 70,000, Vozinha was initially destined to be a striker. “My father wanted to name me Valdano after the Argentine forward Jorge Valdano, who played for Real Madrid. But the name was not approved,” he recounted to ESPN Brasil.
Ultimately named Vozinha, translating to “Little Voice,” he switched to goalkeeping and turned professional at the age of 25 with the local club Batuque in 2007, the same year future star Lamine Yamal was born.
No one else may have traversed the same unconventional path as Vozinha. Following brief tenures in Cape Verde and Portugal, he found himself at Angolan club Progresso, before continuing his career in Europe with Zimbru in Moldova, Gil Vicente in Portugal, AEL Limassol in Cyprus, and AS Trencin in Slovakia.
For the past two years, he has played in Portugal’s second division with Chaves, often rotating in and out of the lineup.
Regardless of his club situation, Vozinha truly excels in a Cape Verde uniform. During World Cup qualifying, he secured seven clean sheets in ten games, conceding just eight goals—four of those in a single match against Cameroon. This could have hinted at Spain’s potential struggles early on.
“I wish I could tell 18-year-old Vozinha to be proud of himself,” he remarked after the match.
“I have dedicated my life to this moment,” he continued. “At 40 years old, I began playing professionally at 25 in 2012. There were times I considered quitting, but I persisted for this dream. This celebration is not just mine; it’s for my teammates—without them, none of this would have been possible. I will keep pushing for Cape Verde and its people.”
Why Vozinha Went Viral after the Game against Spain
1:23
Burley slams ‘extremely pedestrian’ Spain after Cape Verde draw
For a memorable 90 minutes in Atlanta, Vozinha was impenetrable. Spain unleashed 27 shots, with seven on target, but couldn’t find a way past him, not even with the assistance of young stars like Yamal and Nico Williams.
His exceptional performance included acrobatic saves and superb reflex actions, denying attempts from Pedri and more. When the final whistle blew, Vozinha left the field teary-eyed, having helped his country earn its first-ever World Cup point in its debut match.
“I cried because my grandparents raised me, and I lost them a few years ago; they were everything to me,” Vozinha expressed after the match. “My mother also couldn’t be here due to visa issues, which we couldn’t resolve in time. I wish she were here, but I am filled with happiness.”
The match was the most surprising outcome of the World Cup to date, and Vozinha’s remarkable performance captured national attention. Brazilian channel CazéTV encouraged viewers to follow Vozinha on Instagram, resulting in an explosive increase in his followers from 46,000 to 1 million moments after the match, and eventually to 5 million and growing rapidly.
“I have dedicated my entire life to this moment, this dream,” Vozinha told Fox after the match.
“Many generations before me aspired to this and didn’t get the chance; many former players from our national team… now that dream has become a reality.”
Vozinha’s journey continues. He will return to the pitch to face Uruguay on Sunday in Miami. Perhaps he will lead Cape Verde to their first World Cup victory, even if Monday’s draw felt like one.
Additional reporting from ESPN Deportes and ESPN Brasil.