Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha took over social media platforms after an outstanding performance against Spain in the 2026 World Cup.

Vozinha gained millions of followers on Instagram overnight following his world-class performance against the "Matador".

Vozinha stood firm against the Spanish attack, and the match ended in a goalless draw.

With a population of around 500,000, Cape Verde is one of the least populous countries ever to participate in a World Cup, but that did not stop it from competing with one of the biggest football powers in the world.

Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha. (AFP)

Vozinha also outshone major stars such as Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes.

But unlike his sudden rise on social media, Vozinha’s success story did not happen overnight. The veteran goalkeeper has been playing professional football for nearly two decades, moving between nine different clubs throughout his career.

He has also earned 91 international caps for Cape Verde since 2012, but his performance on Monday, on the biggest football stage in the world, proved that Vozinha may have been saving his best level for the moments when the spotlight shines brightest.

With the match between Uruguay and Saudi Arabia ending in a 1 1 draw, all teams in Group H were level on one point after the first round, meaning everything was still to play for for the small African nation.

Cape Verde’s chances of reaching the knockout stages may seem hard to believe, especially with another tough match approaching against a strong team like Uruguay, but if their game against Spain proved anything, it is that they do not back down against any opponent.