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As it turns out, getting Instagram followers is simple. As Cape Verde goalie Vozinha proved on Monday, June 15, all one has to do is become a national (and international) hero in the biggest soccer match of their life.
Before Cape Verde's national soccer team made their World Cup debut, Vozinha – also known as Josimar Dias – had 45,000 followers on Instagram. As of 5:30 p.m. on June 15, his account has surpassed 2.7 million followers.
The 40-year-old goalkeeper (Vozinha roughly translates to "granny") from Cape Verde became a celebrity in the span of 90 minutes when he held the Spanish national team to zero goals in a 0-0 draw. The draw earned the small archipelagic nation its first World Cup point in its first-ever World Cup match.
VOZHINA! Cape Verde goalkeeper makes unbelievable saves vs. Spain in World Cup
Spain, who entered the 2026 World Cup as the favorites to win the tournament, took 27 shots in their first match of the group stage. Seven of them were on goal. ESPN metrics gave Spain 2.10 expected goals.
Vozinha managed to keep a clean sheet, with a few highlight-reel saves. In doing so, he earned FIFA Man of the Match recognition and became the oldest goalkeeper in World Cup history to keep a clean sheet in a tournament match.
In the aftermath of Vozinha's heroics, people flocked to the goalkeeper's Instagram account and pushed his follower count over 2 million in two hours. The veteran reacted to the surge in followers during an interview after the match.
"Crazy," he said.
Vozinha has played for the Cape Verde national team since 2012 and has played with Liga Portugal 2 club G.D. Chaves since 2024.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cape Verde goalie Vozinha surpasses 2 million Instagram followers
Continue reading...
Before Cape Verde's national soccer team made their World Cup debut, Vozinha – also known as Josimar Dias – had 45,000 followers on Instagram. As of 5:30 p.m. on June 15, his account has surpassed 2.7 million followers.
The 40-year-old goalkeeper (Vozinha roughly translates to "granny") from Cape Verde became a celebrity in the span of 90 minutes when he held the Spanish national team to zero goals in a 0-0 draw. The draw earned the small archipelagic nation its first World Cup point in its first-ever World Cup match.
VOZHINA! Cape Verde goalkeeper makes unbelievable saves vs. Spain in World Cup
Spain, who entered the 2026 World Cup as the favorites to win the tournament, took 27 shots in their first match of the group stage. Seven of them were on goal. ESPN metrics gave Spain 2.10 expected goals.
Vozinha managed to keep a clean sheet, with a few highlight-reel saves. In doing so, he earned FIFA Man of the Match recognition and became the oldest goalkeeper in World Cup history to keep a clean sheet in a tournament match.
In the aftermath of Vozinha's heroics, people flocked to the goalkeeper's Instagram account and pushed his follower count over 2 million in two hours. The veteran reacted to the surge in followers during an interview after the match.
"Crazy," he said.
Vozinha has played for the Cape Verde national team since 2012 and has played with Liga Portugal 2 club G.D. Chaves since 2024.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cape Verde goalie Vozinha surpasses 2 million Instagram followers
Continue reading...
