World Cup 2026: Cape Verde Goalkeeper Gains 14 Million Instagram Followers After Impressive Performance Against Spain

After a standout performance against Spain on Monday, Cape Verde goalkeeper Josimar Dias—known as Vozinha—has seen his Instagram following surge dramatically, Yahoo Sports reports.

Vozinha entered the match with about 50,000 followers on Instagram. Within 24 hours of Cape Verde’s 0‑0 draw with Spain, his account had grown to nearly 14 million followers and counting.

He had posted earlier that day that his follower count had reached 1.9 million, a figure that has since continued to climb.

The 40‑year‑old, who earned the nickname “Vozinha” (meaning “granny” in Portuguese) at a young age, embraced the moniker during the game, where he dominated opponents half his age and guided Cape Verde to a stalemate against one of the World Cup’s strongest teams.

Vozinha made seven saves and recorded a team‑high 68 touches in the match, a performance that earned him Man of the Match honors. When asked about the award, he credited his teammates, saying the entire squad deserved the recognition.

He has continued to engage his rapidly growing audience on Instagram, sharing photos and videos from the tie.

Cape Verde, making its World Cup debut, was not expected to hold Spain to a draw. Thanks to Vozinha’s display, the nation stunned the football world. The team will look to replicate that level of play in its second group match against Uruguay on Sunday.

James Agberebi

James is a sport content creator and also does analysis on sports. Also, James has covered international matches involving both Nigeria’s men and women national teams. Facebook : James Agberebi