Just a few weeks ago, hardly anyone outside of Cape Verde knew him, but now he ranks among the most-followed goalkeepers in the world: Vozinha (40), the Cape Verdean national team's goalkeeper, has reached the milestone of 15.4 million followers on Instagram (as of Monday morning). This puts him even ahead of German World Cup champion and world-class goalkeeper Manuel Neuer (40), who has 14.8 million subscribers.
From Around 50,000 Followers to 15.4 Million
The jump is enormous: Before his appearance against Spain on June 15, the keeper, who is under contract with Portuguese second-division club GD Chaves, had fewer than 50,000 followers. A single match triggered the hype.
In his first appearance at a World Cup, Cape Verde drew 0-0 with heavy favorite Spain. Vozinha, whose real name is Josimar Dias, saved seven shots and kept the Spanish in check for the entire match. Many had predicted a heavy defeat for the small island nation with around 530,000 inhabitants, but instead they achieved the most important result in the country's football history. The previously largely unknown 40-year-old became instantly famous and an early World Cup hero. The man of the match became an international star within days, with his follower count rapidly shooting into the millions.
Will Cape Verde Advance to the Next Round?
And the hype continues. The goalkeeper cemented his new status in the second group match against Uruguay on Monday night. While he conceded two goals, he was still able to save several shots and help underdog Cape Verde achieve a 2-2 draw. This gives the African island nation a chance to advance to the round of 16. On Friday night into Saturday, the team will face Saudi Arabia in Houston in their third group match. A win would guarantee Cape Verde a place in the round of 16, but even another draw could be enough to complete the sensation.
Mother in the Stadium Against Uruguay
There was already a particularly emotional moment for Vozinha in the match against Uruguay: His mother Ana Candida Evora was able to be there live at the stadium in Miami. After the match against Spain, Vozinha had publicly expressed regret that she couldn't enter the country. "She didn't make it here because of the visa... because of the money we have to pay for the visa," he told reporters. "We didn't make it in time, and I would have liked to have her here." Cape Verde is among around 50 countries whose citizens must deposit a bond of up to $15,000 under a Trump administration policy, justified by allegedly high rates of visa overstays. US authorities finally responded to the goalkeeper's plea: They enabled her entry and even waived the fees for his mother.
