Miami: Before the FIFA World Cup kicked off on June 11, very few football fans knew about the African island nation of Cape Verde (Cabo Verde). However, the team’s remarkable performances during the tournament turned them into one of the biggest talking points, with 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha emerging as one of the competition’s standout stars.
When the World Cup began, Vozinha had barely 50,000 followers on Instagram. His outstanding displays throughout the tournament have now taken that number to an astonishing 18.4 million.
Vozinha Denied Argentina Eight Times, Including Four Messi Attempts
After Cape Verde held former world champions Spain to a draw in their opening league match, Vozinha’s Instagram following jumped to eight million. By the following day, it had crossed 14 million, and after the dramatic knockout clash against Argentina on Saturday, it surged to 18.4 million.
Cape Verde, a nation of barely 500,000 people and ranked outside the world’s top 60 in FIFA rankings, refused to surrender against defending champions Argentina. Messi’s side eventually won 3-2 after a thrilling extra-time battle, but Cape Verde celebrated the performance like a victory despite the defeat.
Argentina scored through Lionel Messi in the 29th minute, Lisandro Martinez in the 92nd minute and an own goal by Dini Borges. However, before those goals, Vozinha produced eight crucial saves to deny Argentina, including four attempts from Messi himself.
“The World Finally Knows Our Country,” Says Cape Verde Native
Although Cape Verde were eliminated after the 3-2 defeat, they earned the admiration of millions of football fans around the world with their fearless performance against Argentina.
Prieto Fernandez, a Cape Verde native who moved to the United States 40 years ago, said very few people had even heard of his country back then, and many couldn’t locate it on a map. But after Saturday’s memorable performance, the 65-year-old proudly left Miami Stadium with his head held high.
”The whole world now knows how to pronounce the name of our country. It is not Cape Verde, but Cabo Verde. It’s a Portuguese name. Whatever we do, we do it with a big heart. We are brave people, and the world has now seen that,” Fernandez said.
Cape Verde had earlier held Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia to draws during the league stage before giving Argentina one of their toughest tests of the tournament.
Media Criticise Messi’s Argentina Despite Victory
Argentina eventually advanced thanks to an own goal in the 111th minute, but several Argentine football followers praised Cape Verde far more than the winners.
Many supporters said Vozinha completely dominated Messi and Argentina for most of the match, adding that Cape Verde looked capable of defeating even Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal. Others felt Argentina’s weaknesses had been exposed and predicted that Messi would remember this extraordinary contest for the rest of his career.
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