Cape Verde's Vozinha has become a World Cup sensation after his stunning performance against Spain in Atlanta. His Instagram following exploded from under 50,000 to more than 9.4 million in just hours.
The 40-year-old goalkeeper kept a clean sheet against the tournament favourites on his World Cup debut. He made seven crucial saves to earn Cape Verde their first-ever point at the global showpiece.
It was one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history. Spain, champions in 2010, couldn't break down the resilient Blue Sharks defence.
Vozinha's performance shattered records that same evening. He became the oldest goalkeeper ever to keep a clean sheet on his tournament debut.
Only Pat Jennings of Northern Ireland has made more saves in a World Cup match by a goalkeeper over 40. Jennings stopped 10 shots against Brazil back in 1986.
Before kickoff, the veteran had roughly 50,000 followers on the platform. Within hours, his social media presence had exploded into a global phenomenon.
His online following now surpasses most World Cup players competing in the tournament. Only a handful of England stars have larger followings: Jude Bellingham, Marcus Rashford, Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice.
Cape Verde, the Atlantic island nation, is making its first World Cup appearance ever. With around 500,000 people, it's the third-smallest country by population to qualify for the tournament.
Vozinha told the Men in Blazers podcast he couldn't believe his sudden fame. "That is unpredictable; I didn't expect that," he said in an interview.
According to him, the speed of social media caught him off guard completely. "Things run fast on Instagram, but I didn't believe it.
I still don't believe, but it is what it is."
He thanked everyone for the overwhelming support flooding in. "Thank you to everyone," he added with evident gratitude.
Born in Mindelo, Vozinha started his professional career relatively late in life. He joined local club Batuque at age 25 back in 2007.
His career has taken him across Europe and Africa over the years. He's played in Portugal, Angola, Moldova, Cyprus and Slovakia before settling at Portuguese second-tier club Chaves.
Vozinha earned his first international cap for Cape Verde in 2012. Since then, he's become a dependable presence with 89 caps for the national team.
Only captain Ryan Mendes has earned more caps for the Blue Sharks than him. One unforgettable night in Atlanta has transformed this humble goalkeeper into a worldwide star.
