Club World Cup: why the Cape Verde keeper was in tears 🥹 | OneFootball

Club World Cup: why the Cape Verde keeper was in tears 🥹 | OneFootball

In partnership with

Yahoo sports
Icon: OneFootball

OneFootball

·16 June 2026

Club World Cup: why the Cape Verde keeper was in tears 🥹

Article image:Club World Cup: why the Cape Verde keeper was in tears 🥹

Get the tissues out.

This browser is not supported, please use a different one or install the app

video-poster

Vozinha, whose real name is Josimar José Evora Dias, is the face of Cape Verde’s historic draw against Spain, the European champions.


OneFootball Videos


The 40-year-old goalkeeper kept a clean sheet for 90 minutes and was therefore named “Man of the Match.”

The significance of this achievement for the veteran became clear after the final whistle: Vozinha walked across the pitch at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium completely overcome and in tears.

But the reason for his emotional reaction was not only the sensational point won against Spain. Vozinha then opened up emotionally to reporters.

“I cried because I grew up with my grandparents, and they are no longer here—they passed away a few years ago. They meant everything to me.”

And also: “On top of that, my mother couldn’t come here because we didn’t have the money to pay for her visa to enter the United States.”

The internet reacted immediately, especially to the second statement. Many users have already started fundraising to cover the cost of Vozinha’s mother’s entry visa.

The goalkeeper also gained huge visibility on other platforms. His number of Instagram followers jumped to 4.7 million in just a few hours and is now approaching six million. Brazilian YouTube channel “Caze TV” had encouraged viewers to follow the goalkeeper during the match, with clear success.

This story is already one of the most moving and incredible of this World Cup!

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.


📸 Buda Mendes - 2026 Getty Images

View publisher imprint