E never too late for person to get breakthrough for life. Just ask Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha, wey wake up Monday as unknown 40-year-old goalie wey don play for 19 years. He don play more than 200 games for clubs for Portugal, Cape Verde, Moldova, Angola, Cyprus and Slovakia. He don win only one trophy for him career—2018-19 Cypriot Cup with AEL Limassol—and he don proudly represent him native Cape Verde since 2012.
This World Cup na Cape Verde first ever, and e be the highlight of him career. Before tournament, Vozinha tell ESPN Brasil say: “I think e be the most important moment of our lives.” And Monday, when dem face Spain for opening match, na the biggest day of him career. After 27 shots, 7 saves, and 90 minutes, Vozinha life change forever. Dem name am Man of the Match, and e cry when e hear final whistle. Him Instagram followers jump from 56,000 to 5 million, and e become one of early hero stories for World Cup.
Cape Verde manager Bubista say: “He was overwhelmed with emotion. He is quite an experienced player and has struggled throughout all of these years to be here at this world stage. It was also a cry of resilience.” Vozinha born for Mindelo, Cape Verde, a town of 70,000 people. Him papa want name am Valdano after Argentine striker Jorge Valdano from Real Madrid, but authorities no allow am. Instead, dem call am Vozinha, meaning “Little Granny”.
E become goalkeeper and turn professional at age 25, making him debut for obscure local side Batuque for 2007—the same year Spain star Lamine Yamal born. Nobody don walk Vozinha journeyman path through football. After brief spells for Cape Verde and Portugal, e earn move to Angolan side Progresso. From there, e ply trade for Europe, playing for Zimbru for Moldova, Gil Vicente for Portugal, AEL Limassol for Cyprus, and AS Trencin for Slovakia. He don spend last two years for Portugal second division with Chaves, where e dey in and out of squad.
But never mind club form; for Cape Verde jersey, Vozinha truly shine. E keep 7 clean sheets for 10 games during World Cup qualifying and concede just 8 goals—4 of which come for one match against Cameroon. Maybe warning signs for Spain dey from beginning. After game, Vozinha say: “I would tell 18-year-old Vozinha to be really proud of himself. I have worked my whole life for this moment. I’m 40 years old. I started playing football professionally when I was 25, in 2012. I thought about leaving, but I continued because of this dream. This is for everyone. I was named man of the match, but this is for all of my teammates because without them nothing would be possible. I will continue to work for Cape Verde and for the people.”
For 90 unforgettable minutes for Atlanta on Monday, Vozinha was unbeatable. Spain throw everything at am, including 27 shots (7 on target). Soccer brightest young stars Yamal and Nico Williams come off bench but no fit find way past Vozinha. E dazzle with reflex stops, diving saves, a magnificent early denial of Pedri, and efforts from range smothered with aplomb. By time referee blow final whistle, Vozinha leave field for tears, after helping him country win first ever World Cup point for debut game.
Vozinha say: “I cried because I grew up with my grandparents and unfortunately they were not here; they died a few years ago. They were everything for me, for my life. I also cried because my mum didn’t manage to be here because of the visa. Because of the money we had to pay for the visa, we didn’t manage to get it done on time. I would like her to be here, but I’m also very happy.”
Na the biggest shock of World Cup so far, and Vozinha display no go unnoticed. Brazilian broadcaster CazéTV begin encourage viewers to follow Vozhinha on Instagram. Impact na meteoric; Vozinha 46,000 followers swell to 1 million within minutes of match end. Within further few hours, e get 5 million followers. Vozinha tell Fox after game: “I work hard all my life for this, for this moment, for this dream. A lot of generations in the past were dreaming of this, they didn’t achieve it, many ex-players from our national team.”
Vozinha journey no finish. E go back for action to face Uruguay on Sunday for Miami. Maybe e go help Cape Verde to first World Cup victory, even if Monday result feel like one anyway.
