The next World Cup match in Miami Gardens will pit two aging goalkeepers in Uruguay’s Fernando Muslera, 39, and Cape Verde’s Vozinha, 40.
But the latter is the one catching everyone’s attention today. Vozinha gained millions of Instagram followers after Cape Verde battled Spain to a 0-0 draw on June 15. Cape Verde will take on Uruguay – which tied Saudi Arabia – on Sunday, June 21 at the stadium formerly known as Hard Rock Stadium.
Who is Vozinha – the bearded wonder who stopped 27 of Spain’s shots – and what is making him so popular less than a week into the World Cup?
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Here are 5 things to know about the Cape Verde goalkeeper, whose Instagram followers jumped from 56,000 to more than 5 million and counting:
What is Vozinha’s real name?
In case you don’t know, Vozinha means “granny” in Portuguese, the official language in Cape Verde, a former colony of Portugal before the archipelago nation off the west coast of Africa gained its independence in 1975.
His real name: Josimar Dias.
That nickname, despite what you may be thinking, did not arrive recently. When Dias was growing up, he would play soccer with the older boys in his neighborhood. They beat him up and bullied him to the point where he would threaten to run home and tell his grandparents. Naturally, they started calling him “Vozinha.” Eventually, Dias adopted the nickname.
Actually, his father wanted to name him Valdano, after the Argentine striker Jorge Valdano, of Real Madrid. He told ESPN Brasil that the government nixed that.
Is Vozinha really 40 years old?
In an era when people regularly fudge about their age, Vozinha is proud to be an elder citizen of the World Cup field. He’s cherishing this moment, knowing it likely will be his first and last on soccer’s big stage.
“We’ve worked for this moment, for a night like this,” Vozinha said in Portuguese after tying heavily favored Spain. “I’m 40 years old. As everyone knows, I turned professional back in 2012. That’s quite late for someone like me. I thought about quitting the national team, but I kept going because of this dream.”
What is Vozinha’s soccer club history?
Vozinha currently plays for Chaves, a member of Portugal’s second-tier Liga Portugal 2. He’s also played for clubs from Angola, Moldova, Cyprus and Slovakia. He has been a member of Cape Verde’s national team since 2012.
Has Vozinha ever won any soccer trophies?
Vozinha has competed in more than 200 soccer matches during his career. His one trophy: the 2018-19 Cypriot Cup with AEL Limassol (Cyprus).
Should Vozinha’s performance vs. Spain been a surprise?
Vozinha has risen to the occasion in the World Cup so far.
In 10 matches during World Cup qualifying, he had 7 clean sheets and gave up eight goals- four in one match vs. Cameroon.
His performance vs. Spain left him in tears. But it’s Cape Verde’s opponents who may be crying if Vozinha can continue his magic in goal.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Who is Vozinha, the ageless Cape Verde goalkeeper and World Cup star?
Reporting by Nick Pugliese, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Nick Pugliese, Palm Beach Post | USA TODAY Network
