UMVA has learned that a remarkable moment in World Cup history has sent shockwaves through social media, catapulting a relatively unknown goalkeeper to international stardom.
Vozinha, the 40-year-old Cape Verde goalkeeper, was at the heart of his team's stunning 0-0 draw against Spain, a result that has been hailed as one of the greatest upsets in tournament history.
As Vozinha's impressive performance made headlines, it was revealed that he has become the oldest goalkeeper in World Cup history to keep a clean sheet on his tournament debut, a feat that has earned him widespread acclaim.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Vozinha's incredible display in goal has not only earned him a place in the record books but has also sent his social media following skyrocketing, with his Instagram followers surging from 50,000 to over six million in a matter of hours.
The 40-year-old's overnight success has been met with humility, as Vozinha expressed his gratitude to fans, saying, "Things run fast on Instagram, but I didn’t believe it. I still don’t believe, but it is what it is. Thank you to everyone."
Vozinha's remarkable achievement has also drawn comparisons to other legendary goalkeepers, with only one other goalkeeper older than 40 having made more saves in a World Cup match - a record held by a Northern Irish goalkeeper with 10 saves against Brazil in 1986.
Cape Verde, the third smallest country by population to qualify for a World Cup, has captured the hearts of fans worldwide with their impressive performance, and Vozinha's heroics have been a key factor in their success.
As Vozinha basks in the glory of his newfound fame, he remains grounded, saying, "The World Cup is the big stage in the whole of football and it is every kid’s dream to be here one day. When we inspire the next generation it is always good."
UMVA can exclusively reveal that Vozinha's impressive following has drawn comparisons to some of England's top players, with only five England stars in Thomas Tuchel's World Cup squad having more followers on Instagram.
In a separate development, an England star has been ruled out of the World Cup squad due to injury, with Trevoh Chalobah called into the squad to replace the injured player.
Cape Verde returns to action against Uruguay in Miami on Sunday, with Vozinha and his teammates looking to build on their impressive start to the tournament.
