Cabo Verde's Vozinha Becomes Social Media Sensation After FIFA World Cup
Vozinha's Rise to Fame
New Delhi [India] - July 5: Despite exiting in the round of 32 at the FIFA World Cup, Cabo Verde's 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha has seen a remarkable surge in popularity. He has surpassed renowned goalkeepers like Iker Casillas from Spain, Belgium's Thibaut Courtois, Emiliano Martinez, the 2022 World Cup champion from Argentina, and Germany's Manuel Neuer, becoming the most followed goalkeeper on social media.
Cabo Verde made a memorable debut in the FIFA World Cup, facing off against the reigning champions Argentina in a thrilling match that ended 3-2. Although they did not secure a victory, their draws against Euro Champions Spain and former champions Uruguay, along with a commendable performance against a Lionel Messi-led Argentina, are significant achievements that fans will cherish. These experiences are sure to inspire a new generation of footballers in Cabo Verde, especially in goalkeeping.
Vozinha's follower count began to soar after the goalless draw with Spain in their opening match. Before the encounter with Argentina, he had approximately 18 million followers on Instagram, but following the match, his followers skyrocketed to over 25 million, according to reports from a Brazilian media outlet. This surge has pushed Casillas, a 2010 World Cup winner, to second place with around 20.4 million followers.
Other notable goalkeepers in the social media landscape include Costa Rica's Keylor Navas with 19 million, Belgium's Thibaut Courtois with 18 million, and Germany's Marc-Andre ter Stegen with 16.7 million. The top ten also features legends like David de Gea and Emiliano Martinez (both at 15.1 million), Manuel Neuer (14.9 million), Gianluigi Buffon (10.9 million), and Brazil's Alisson Becker (9.1 million), as reported.
Throughout the tournament, Vozinha made an impressive 18 saves while conceding only five goals. Among goalkeepers aged 40 and above, only Peter Shilton (28 saves in 1990) and Dino Zoff (27 saves in 1982) have recorded more saves in a single World Cup, according to OptaJoe.
Cabo Verde's performance was commendable, remaining unbeaten against three world champion teams: the 2010 champions Spain, two-time champions Uruguay, and the defending champions Argentina, proving their capability on the global stage.
In total, they scored four goals, conceded five, drew three matches, and lost one. Vozinha's transformation from a lesser-known player in Portugal's second-tier league with Chaves to the most followed goalkeeper globally is remarkable. As he gains fame, he is likely to attract attention in the European football scene, positioning himself as a sought-after free-agent goalkeeper ahead of the new season.