ATLANTA: Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha has emerged as one of the early stars of the FIFA World Cup 2026 after producing a sensational performance to help his side secure a goalless draw against European champions Spain at Atlanta Stadium on Monday.
The 40-year-old shot-stopper was the standout performer in Cape Verde’s first-ever World Cup game, making seven crucial saves to deny Spain and earn the Player of the Match award. His display quickly went viral across social media, leaving football fans around the world asking the same question: Who exactly is Vozinha?
Born Josimar José Evora Dias, Vozinha’s name is actually a nickname rather than his real surname.
The moniker, which means “little granny” in Portuguese, comes from the grandparents who raised him during his childhood while his father served in the military and his mother worked.
“The nickname is because of my grandparents,” Vozinha explained in an interview with FIFA earlier this year.
“I never lived with my parents. When I was born, my father was in military service, and my mother had to work, so I always grew up with my grandparents.”
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Speaking about why he uses Vozinha on the back of his shirt, the goalkeeper revealed the name has followed him throughout his career.
“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 said.
The veteran goalkeeper repeatedly came to Cape Verde’s rescue as the Spanish side dominated possession and created numerous chances.
Vozinha denied several Spanish stars, including Ferran Torres, Pedri and Aymeric Laporte, with a series of outstanding saves, particularly in the closing stages of the first half. His efforts helped Cape Verde claim a valuable point against one of the tournament favourites.
The emotional significance of the result was evident at the final whistle as Vozinha broke down in tears while being embraced by teammates after the historic draw.
“Very proud. For me, it is an honour for me to represent my country,” Vozinha told reporters. “We are from a small country. Our qualification was very difficult in a group with Cameroon and Libya, but we knew if we followed the plan of the coach, we had a great chance to qualify.
“The dream came true. We competed against Spain, one of the best teams in the world. We are very happy and proud of all the players and people of Cape Verde.”
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The experienced goalkeeper currently plays for Chaves in Portugal’s second division and has enjoyed a lengthy career spanning multiple countries.
He began his club journey in Cape Verde with Batuque FC before representing CS Mindelense, Progresso in Angola, Zimbru Chisinau in Moldova, Gil Vicente in Portugal, AEL Limassol in Cyprus and AS Trencin in Slovakia.
His international career has been equally impressive. Vozinha made his debut for Cape Verde 14 years ago and has since earned more than 80 caps for the Blue Sharks.
He has represented his country in four Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournaments before making his World Cup debut against Spain.
Moreover, his heroics against Spain have transformed him into an overnight sensation. According to reports, his Instagram following skyrocketed from around 500,000 to more than five million within hours of the final whistle.
With Group H also featuring Uruguay and Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde still face a difficult road ahead. However, thanks to Vozinha’s unforgettable display against Spain, the Blue Sharks have already produced one of the standout stories of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
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