It has been the most thrilling and widely anticipated World Cup ever, and regardless of who ends up with the trophy, it is clear that the soccer team from Cape Verde will not be forgotten in a hurry, even though this is their very first appearance at the tournament.
Like a Cinderella story playing out in real time, the football team from Cape Verde has become a fan favorite. In its opening match on June 15, Cape Verde, the third-smallest country ever to qualify for the World Cup, held fan favorites and 2010 champions Spain to a goalless draw in front of a cheering crowd of 67,640 people at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
]The match brought global attention to the nation, but it also put a spotlight on its goalkeeper, who delivered a brilliant seven-save performance and helped secure the team a spot in the round of 16.
Once again, on Friday, Cape Verde and Vozinha’s World Cup journey continued against Argentina for a chance to play in the round of 16. Although the defending champions eventually escaped with a 3-2 victory, thanks to an own goal in extra time, the world was in awe of the team’s resilience and determination, especially that of their phenomenal goalkeeper.
Vozinha, whose full name is Josimar Dias, is a 40-year-old goalkeeper who has been with the Cape Verde national team since 2012. Outside his time with the national team, Vozinha has had stints with Chaves, a Portuguese professional football club in Liga Portugal 2, as well as with clubs in Angola, Moldova, Portugal, and Cyprus.
Vozinha had a breakout game against World Cup favorite Spain. La Roja had 27 attempts against Cape Verde, seven of which were on target. Vozinha saved every one of those on-target attempts. His outstanding performance helped the Cape Verde team shine brightly and earned them the admiration of fans from all over the world.
In an interview after the match, Vozinha said, “I cry because I grew up with my grandparents, and unfortunately, they are not here. They died a few years before, and they were everything for me. I also cried because of my mom. She didn’t manage to be here because … of the money we have to pay for the visa. We didn’t manage on time. I would have loved for her to be here, but I’m very happy also, and I’m very happy for all the Cabo Verdeans.”
The 40-year-old, who is also an electrician, went from 50,000 Instagram followers at the start of the World Cup to 25 million followers following his outstanding performance. We wish him the absolute best as he continues to forge ahead in his career and life.
Moral of the Story
- Keep going and keep showing up. One day, the universe will announce you.
- When your prayers are eventually answered and your dreams finally come true, never forget to show appreciation to those who supported and invested in you.
- Humility and simplicity are key.
- Keep finding new and more creative ways to get better at your craft.
- Put God first and realize that some things are beyond your control.