Cape Verde’s Vozinha: A Heroic World Cup Performance and a Family Torn Apart

Vozinha was named player of the match in Cape Verde's stunning World Cup draw with heavyweights Spain. Buda Mendes / Getty Images

Cape Verde’s Vozinha opened up about the emotional toll of his World Cup heroics, citing US visa issues that prevented his mother from attending the game. The goalkeeper made seven saves during Cape Verde’s stunning goalless draw with tournament favorites Spain and was named player of the match. He was visibly emotional on the pitch at Mercedes-Benz Stadium after the full-time whistle, embracing his team-mates for several minutes.

Cape Verde were playing their first-ever men’s World Cup finals game and pulled off one of the all-time shocks in the history of the tournament to tie with reigning European champions Spain. Vozinha told reporters including The Athletic after the game, “This is a message of thank you to everybody in Cap Verde,” adding, “We are very happy after this, this group of players have worked a lot to live this moment. It’s a day to be proud and satisfied.

“I cried after the game because I grew up with my grandparents when I was a kid, and they could not be there. They passed away a few years ago. My mum could not be here either for a visa issue, and the money we had to pay for it. We did not manage to do this in time.”

The Athletic has asked the U.S. State Department to clarify what the visa issue was. Vozinha plays for Portuguese second division side Chaves. During his career, he has played for teams in Cape Verde, Moldova, Slovakia and Cyprus. At 40 years old, Vozinha broke records by becoming the oldest player to make an appearance in a nation’s debut World Cup game, while only Egypt’s Essam El Hadary was older when making his World Cup debut.