Cape Verde's 40-year-old goalkeeper has become one of the biggest breakout stars of the World Cup and an overnight Instagram sensation.
Big World Cup names like Lionel Messi, Luis Díaz, and Erling Haaland often dominate the headlines. But Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha has become one of the tournament’s biggest surprises, with strong performances against top teams.
His performances quickly gained attention. Within weeks, his Instagram following grew sharply, making him the most-followed goalkeeper on the platform. But who is the veteran keeper behind the sudden global attention?
The veteran behind Cape Verde’s World Cup run – who is Vozinha?
Born Josimar José Évora Dias, Vozinha grew up on the Cape Verdean island of São Vicente. He is 40 years old and has represented his country for more than a decade, with over 80 international caps.
At club level, he has played in Portugal, Angola, Moldova, and Cyprus. He built a career as a reliable shot-stopper but never played for Europe’s biggest clubs or leagues.
Most players retire before 40. Vozinha reached the World Cup stage at an age when many careers have already ended.
The World Cup of his life
The 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada turned Vozinha into a breakout star. He produced a series of key saves against some of the world’s best attackers, helping Cape Verde exceed expectations.
Fans praised his calm style, leadership, and reflexes. Even against younger opponents, he showed how experience can still decide matches at the highest level. Cape Verde’s run ended in the Round of 16 against Argentina. Vozinha made several important saves against Lionel Messi, but Cape Verde lost 3–2 after an own goal.
At 40, many players have already stopped playing. Vozinha is instead experiencing the peak moment of his career, built on patience and consistency.
From underdog to Instagram star
Before the World Cup, Vozinha had a small social media presence with only a modest number of followers. That changed after Cape Verde’s opening draw against Spain, where he delivered a standout performance and stopped several chances from Lamine Yamal.
His following surged past 27 million on Instagram during the tournament. Football pages shared clips of his saves, and fans created edits that spread across social platforms. His rise also brought global attention to Cape Verde as a football nation.
In Vozinha’s case, performance came first. Social media followed.
His story shows how football can still produce unexpected careers. After years outside Europe’s biggest leagues, he finally reached global recognition on the sport’s biggest stage. At an age when most players retire, he continues to inspire fans with his persistence and late success.
Did you know Vozinha before this World Cup, or did his performances introduce you to Cape Verde’s goalkeeper? Let us know in the comments!
