As published on Blog do Amaury Jr./Splash UOL

Every World Cup creates its own unlikely heroes. Little-known players, debuting nations, and stories capable of winning over fans far beyond their borders. In 2026, one of the tournament’s first breakout stars goes by the nickname Vozinha.

At 40, the Cape Verde goalkeeper became a global sensation after leading the African nation in its historic World Cup debut. Facing mighty Spain, one of the favorites to lift the trophy, Cape Verde held on for a 0-0 draw that felt like a victory. The main reason was the experienced No. 1, who was named FIFA’s Man of the Match.

Born Josimar José Évora Dias in Mindelo, on the island of São Vicente, Vozinha built his career far from football’s traditional powerhouses. After playing in Cape Verde, Angola, Moldova, Cyprus, and Slovakia, the veteran goalkeeper currently plays in Portugal and has been a fixture for the national team since 2012, helping the country reach its first-ever World Cup.

Against Spain, however, he experienced the greatest moment of his career. A string of crucial saves frustrated the Spanish attack and helped Cape Verde earn a historic point in its tournament debut. His performance brought him the Man of the Match award and tears at the final whistle.

There was another reason for the emotion. After the game, Vozinha revealed that his mother, Ana Cândida Évora, had been unable to travel to the United States because of financial difficulties and visa issues. She watched the match from home in Cape Verde, proud of her son, whose performance sparked a wave of support and even drew attention from U.S. authorities.

But perhaps no numbers better illustrate the scale of the phenomenon. When he walked onto the field against Spain, Vozinha had just under 50,000 followers on Instagram. By the time he left it, he had surpassed the one-million mark. The momentum only accelerated. Today, the Cape Verde goalkeeper boasts more than 12 million followers, overtaking established football stars and becoming one of the most popular figures of the World Cup.

The reaction was immediate. Neutral fans quickly adopted Cape Verde as one of the tournament’s most beloved underdogs, while videos of Vozinha’s saves spread rapidly across social media. In a matter of hours, the 40-year-old goalkeeper went from relative obscurity to one of the most celebrated faces of the group stage.

Spain remains one of the favorites and has plenty of time to recover. But in a World Cup that always seems to create new protagonists, it was Cape Verde that stole the spotlight. And it was Vozinha, a veteran goalkeeper from a small island nation off the coast of Africa, who reminded the world why football continues to produce stories that no screenwriter could ever invent.