The match ended in a goalless draw, but the spotlight firmly belonged to the 40-year-old goalkeeper, who frustrated Spain s star-studded attack throughout the contest. Despite dominating possession and creating numerous scoring opportunities, Spain could not find a way past Vózinha, whose heroics earned Cape Verde a valuable point.

The experienced goalkeeper made seven crucial saves during the match, including key stops against Ferran Torres, Pedri, and Aymeric Laporte late in the first half. Every time Spain appeared poised to break the deadlock, Vózinha stood firm, producing one save after another to keep his side in the game.

His outstanding performance earned him the Man of the Match award. After the final whistle, teammates gathered around to celebrate the achievement, while an emotional Vózinha was seen wiping away tears as he reflected on the historic moment.

Born Josimar José Évora Dias, the goalkeeper is widely known by his nickname ‘Vózinha,’ a name given to him by his grandparents, who played a major role in raising him during childhood while his father served in the military and his mother worked. In Portuguese, the nickname roughly translates to "Little Grandmother.’

Speaking after the match, Vózinha revealed that his emotions were tied to memories of his late grandparents, who passed away several years ago.

‘I felt proud to represent my country,’ he said. ‘I became emotional because I remembered my grandparents, who helped raise me and supported me throughout my life. I wish they could have witnessed this moment.’

The goalkeeper also expressed disappointment that his mother was unable to attend the match because of visa-related expenses and time constraints.

The impact of his performance extended far beyond the pitch. Within hours of the final whistle, Vózinha s social media following reportedly exploded from around 500,000 to nearly 5 million followers as football fans across the world celebrated his extraordinary display.

Among those praising the Cape Verdean goalkeeper was French football star Paul Pogba, who described Vózinha as a player of exceptional quality.

Cape Verde, one of the smallest nations ever to qualify for a FIFA World Cup, sent a strong message by holding one of the tournament favorites to a draw. At the heart of that achievement was Vózinha, whose unforgettable performance is already being hailed as one of the defining moments of the 2026 World Cup.