World Cup debutants Cape Verde made history on Monday by holding powerhouse Spain to a 0-0 draw in the opening match of Group H. The man behind the memorable result in Atlanta was goalkeeper Josimar José Évora Dias, better known as Vozinha.

He produced seven saves, including six from inside the box, and earned a Sofascore Rating of 9.7, the highest ever recorded by a goalkeeper aged 40 or older in World Cup history since 1966. Unsurprisingly, he was named Player of the Match.

READ MORE: Vozinha’s wall in Atlanta: Spain shut out by Cabo Verde’s No. 1

But who is Vozinha? Here is the story of one of the first heroes of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

A brazilian-inspired name and a unique nickname

Born on São Vicente Island, one of the ten islands that form the Cape Verde archipelago, the goalkeeper carries football even in his birth name. His father named him Josimar in tribute to Brazil’s iconic right-back from the 1986 World Cup.

However, the football world knows him by a nickname rooted in his humble childhood. Raised by his grandparents while his father served in the military and his mother worked long hours, young Josimar spent his days playing street football with older boys.

Being the smallest among them, he often ended up frustrated after matches and returned home upset. The other boys would tease him by saying he was going to complain to his grandmother.

The nickname stuck. Years later, after moving to Angola to play for Progresso, he found himself sharing the same first name with another goalkeeper. To avoid confusion, he adopted the childhood nickname. That was the birth of Vozinha, the professional footballer.

A football nomad

Unlike the millionaire stars he faced in Cape Verde’s World Cup opener, Vozinha built his career far from the spotlight and away from Europe’s biggest leagues. He only made his professional move abroad at the age of 25.

Over the last two decades, he has played in several countries:

• Portugal: Gil Vicente and Chaves, where he arrived in 2024 as the replacement for Brazilian goalkeeper Hugo Souza.
• Cape Verde: Batuque and Mindelense;
• Angola: Progresso do Sambizanga;
• Moldova: Zimbru Chișinău;
• Cyprus: AEL Limassol, where he enjoyed his longest spell, making 140 appearances and winning the Cypriot Cup;
• Slovakia: AS Trenčín;

Now 40 years old, Vozinha is just weeks away from the expiration of his contract with Chaves and has an estimated market value of only €50,000. Yet for Cape Verde, his value is priceless.

With 89 international appearances, he is the second most-capped player in the history of the national team, behind only captain Ryan Mendes.

Tears and millions of followers

Vozinha’s tears on the pitch in Atlanta carried deeper meaning than the result itself. Beyond the sporting achievement, he was mourning the absence of his biggest supporters. His grandparents passed away without ever seeing him play at a World Cup.

“I worked my whole life for this moment, for this dream. Many generations dreamed of this day and couldn’t achieve it. Today, the dream became reality,” he said after the match.

While family members were missing from the stands, the internet embraced the veteran goalkeeper. Driven by a massive social media campaign, particularly from Brazilian outlets such as CazéTV, Vozinha experienced a remarkable surge in popularity: in less than 24 hours, his Instagram following skyrocketed from around 50,000 to more than six million.

At 40, Vozinha proved that age can be just a number when talent, perseverance and passion come together. The “Grandpa” of the 2026 World Cup now turns his attention to upcoming Group H clashes against Uruguay and Saudi Arabia.

Whatever happens next, he has already secured his place in World Cup history. And on Sofascore, you can follow this entire journey through impressive numbers and standout statistics.