Vozinha, whose full name is Josimar José Evora Dias, became the symbol of Cape Verde’s remarkable draw against the European champions, Spain.
The 40-year-old goalkeeper maintained a perfect clean sheet throughout the entire match, earning him the title of “Man of the Match.”
His emotional reaction was evident at the final whistle as Vozinha sprinted across the pitch at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, clearly overwhelmed and in tears.
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However, his tears were not just about the incredible draw against Spain. In a heartfelt media interview afterward, Vozinha shed light on the deeper reasons behind his emotional response.
“I cried because I was raised by my grandparents, who are no longer with us, having passed away a few years ago. They meant the world to me,” he shared.
He further expressed, “My mother was unable to be here because we couldn’t afford the visa for her to enter the United States.”
The internet quickly responded, particularly to his mention of his mother. Many users began advocating for a fundraising effort to assist with the costs of Vozinha’s mother’s visa.
The goalkeeper also garnered significant attention across social media platforms. His Instagram follower count surged to 4.7 million in just a few hours, and it has since approached six million. During the match, the Brazilian YouTube channel ‘Caze Tv’ had encouraged viewers to follow him, clearly to great effect.
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This story has quickly become one of the most touching and incredible narratives of this World Cup!
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.