At 40 years old, Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha finally made his World Cup debut—and delivered the performance of a lifetime.
Vozinha made seven crucial saves on Monday, holding a star-studded Spanish side to a shocking 0-0 draw. Despite dominating possession and taking 27 shots, Spain grew increasingly frustrated. Even the second-half introduction of teenage superstar Lamine Yamal could not break through Cape Verde’s resilient defense.
When the final whistle blew, Vozinha hunched over and wept before his teammates embraced him. In their first-ever World Cup match, Cape Verde secured a historic point against the 2010 champions and current tournament favourites.
Following the match, Vozinha revealed his tears were for his family. He thought of his late grandparents, who raised him, and his mother, who could not afford a U.S. visa in time to attend the match.
Cape Verde is among 50 countries whose citizens face a visa bond of up to $15,000 to enter the United States. This policy is part of President Donald Trump's strict measures against countries with high visa overstay rates. Although the Trump administration suspended this requirement for World Cup ticket-holders from Cape Verde and four other nations last month, critics argue the exemption came too late for many fans to make arrangements.
Vozinha’s heroic performance capped an unconventional career. He did not play professionally until age 25, debuting for Angolan club Progresso. He later played in Moldova, Cyprus, Slovakia, and Portugal, where he now competes for second-division side Chaves.
Having joined the national team in 2012, Vozinha admitted he previously considered retiring. However, he kept playing to fulfil his World Cup ambition.
“I worked all my life for this moment,” he said. “A lot of past generations dreamed of this day but did not achieve it. Now, the dream has come true.”
His nickname, “Vozinha,” translates to “little grandmother” in Portuguese. He earned it as a child when older boys teased him on the pitch, joking he would run home to complain to his grandparents. He officially adopted the name years later to distinguish himself from another player named Josimar.
Teammates now affectionately tease him about his age. Defender Steven Moreira praised the veteran keeper, calling him a “legend” who proved age is just a number.
His impact resonated globally. Within hours of the match, Vozinha's Instagram following skyrocketed from 50,000 to over 2.4 million.
“He lives and breathes Cape Verde,” said defender Pico Lopes. “He’s strict in practice, always pushing us to be better. You saw it today—he leads by example.”
