In this article, we will learn about Vozinha, who shocked the entire world with his heart-winning performance against Spain
Imagine performing so well in a football game that your social media following grows from 50,000 to more than 6 million in less than 24 hours. That is exactly what occurred to Vozinha, the 40-year-old custodian from Cape Verde, the third smallest nation by population to have ever qualified for a FIFA World Cup.
Vozinha has become an overnight celebrity after throwing his body and doing everything he could to prevent Spain from spoiling his country’s FIFA World Cup debut. Cape Verde held the 2010 champions to a goalless draw, earning a valuable point in Group H, which also includes Uruguay and Saudi Arabia.
While it was a moment to remember for Cape Verde and their supporters, the outcome left Spain stunned, with fans expressing sadness and rage. La Roja dominated in every way possible, but they were unable to score a goal. They had 62% possession and 8 shots on target, 7 of which were saved by Vozinha.
Which club does Vozinha play for?
Vozinha plays for Portuguese’s second-divison club Chaves.
Although Vozinha started his club career at home with Batuque FC before moving to CS Mindelense, the World Cup is by far the largest platform he has achieved.
Before coming to Chaves, the seasoned player represented a wide range of clubs, including Progresso in Angola, Zimbru Chisinau in Moldova, Gil Vicente in Portugal, AEL Limassol in Cyprus, and AS Trencin in Slovakia.
The standout moment was when the veteran shot-stopper made a superb reaction save to prevent Ferran Torres from scoring the potential first goal, as well as a key intervention to tip an Aymeric Laporte header over the bar.
Vozinha received a 9.7 rating and was named player of the match for his efforts, but the hot topic is his growing number of Instagram followers.
Before the opening Group H match in Atlanta, the 40-year-old veteran was almost unknown to the worldwide audience, with an Instagram following of around 50,000. However, after making seven key stops to frustrate the European champions, his profile skyrocketed.
What is Vozinha’s real name?
Vozinha’s real name is Josimar Jose Evora Dias. His mother worked, and his father was in the military, so he spent most of his time with his grandparents. Given that the name means “little granny” in Portuguese, it makes sense.
Also Read: 10 Best Apps to Watch FIFA World Cup 2026 Live Streaming Free
Vozinha has been his jersey name throughout the nomadic club journey across Africa and Europe, starting from his hometown of São Vicente in Cape Verde.
“When I arrived in Angola, there was another goalkeeper named Josimar, and I said, ‘I am not going to put Josimar II on the shirt’. If everyone knew me as Vozinha in Cape Verde, that’s what I would be,” he told FIFA in an interview earlier this year.
His account blew up after seeing social media clips from the contest. Within 24 hours of the last whistle, Vozinha’s fan base surpassed 5.8 million, earning more fans in one day than the whole population of Cape Verde.
