Vozinha gains more than 20 million followers on Instagram

Cape Verdean goalkeeper Vozinha has skyrocketed to more than 20 million followers on Instagram.

This was due to the 40-year-old’s outstanding performances during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he helped the Blue Sharks reach the round of 16.

Entering the tournament with just 50,000 followers, Vozinha gained over 18 million new fans overnight and surpassed legends like Iker Casillas to become the most followed goalkeeper on the platform.

Vozinha helped his country reach the World Cup knockout round for the first time in his first appearance at a FIFA World Cup.

After his excellent performances in goal helped Cape Verde to a surprising 0-0 draw with Spain in their first match, he repeated the feat and also forced Uruguay to a 2-2 draw.

Their final group match against Saudi Arabia also ended in a goalless draw, which was enough to send them to the round of 32, where they lost to reigning champions Argentina 3-2.

Also read: World Cup 2026: ‘Cape Verde beat me up’ – Messi

Vozinha made his debut for the Cape Verde national team in September 2012 in the first leg of the 2013 African Cup of Nations qualifying playoffs at home to Cameroon, a 2–0 victory.

He remained in goal in the second leg in Yaoundé on 14 October, a 2–1 defeat that saw Cape Verde qualify for their first major tournament.

In the final in South Africa, the team reached the quarterfinals before losing 2-0 to Ghana.

At 40 years and 12 days, he became the oldest player to participate in a country’s first FIFA World Cup match (breaking the record set by Curacao’s Eloy Room just a day earlier) and was also the ninth oldest player to participate in the tournament.

He also became the third oldest goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in a World Cup match, after Peter Shilton and Dino Zoff, and in the process moved into second place among goalkeepers over 40 with the most saves in a World Cup match on record (since 1966).