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Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha has skyrocketed to over 20 million Instagram followers.
This was as a result of the 40-year-old’s breakout performances during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he helped the Blue Sharks reach the round of 16.
Entering the tournament with just 50,000 followers, Vozinha gained over 18 million new fans overnight and surpassed legends like Iker Casillas to become the most-followed goalkeeper on the platform.
Vozinha helped his country reach a first-ever World Cup knockout round in their debut appearance at a FIFA World Cup.
After his fine displays in goal helped Cape Verde hold Spain to a shock 0-0 draw in their opening game, he repeated the feat as they also forced Uruguay to a 2-2 draw.
Their final group encounter with Saudi Arabia also ended in a goalless draw which was enough to send them the round of 32 where they lost to reigning champions Argentina 3-2.
Also Read: World Cup 2026: ‘Cape Verde Kicked The Crap Out Of Me’ –Messi
Vozinha made his debut for the Cape Verde national team in September 2012 in a 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualification playoff first leg at home to Cameroon, a 2–0 win.
He remained in goal for the second leg in Yaoundé on 14 October, a 2–1 loss which saw Cape Verde qualify for its first major tournament.
At the finals in South Africa, the team reached the quarterfinals before a 2–0 loss to Ghana.
At 40 years and 12 days old, he became the oldest player to feature in a nation’s first FIFA World Cup match – breaking the record that had been set by Curaçao’s Eloy Room just a day earlier – and was also the ninth-oldest player to ever feature in the tournament.
He also became the third-oldest goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in a World Cup match, following Peter Shilton and Dino Zoff, and, in the process, moved into second-place among goalkeepers over 40 years old for most saves in a World Cup match on record (since 1966).
