A 40-year-old goalkeeper who thrilled the world
Cape Verde reached the round of 32 of the World Cup without winning a single match. And yet, his time in the tournament will be remembered. Much of the credit goes to Vozinha, the 40-year-old goalkeeper who was about to star in one of the biggest surprises in football history.
On Friday, the Blue Sharks fell 3-2 to Argentina in overtime. Lionel Messi had to sweat to avoid the hit. But the scoreboard does not reflect Cape Verde’s feat.
The path of a debutante
The African team debuted with a goalless draw against Spain, with Vozinha as a figure. Then, two more draws were enough for them to advance from the group stage. The goalkeeper fulfilled his dream: his mother traveled to the United States to see him play.
Against Argentina, Vozinha grew bigger. He stopped at least four of Messi’s shots in the last 60 minutes of the game:
- At 63′, he blocked a point-blank shot, narrowing the angle.
- In the 73rd minute, he deflected an incoming free kick with his outstretched hand.
- In added time, he dropped to his knees to save a low free kick.
- Already in extra time, he flew to his left to deflect another shot from the Argentine star.
But Messi’s hierarchy weighed: he gave a goal and an assist from a corner kick, and Lautaro Martínez scored the final goal in the second extra time.
More than a defeat
Cape Verde is the smallest nation in area that has reached a World Cup. Its population is equivalent to 1% of that of Argentina. For his participation, he will receive 11 million dollars from FIFA.
The team made itself known on the biggest stage. And Vozinha, with his mother in the stands, earned the respect of the world.
