Cape Verde captain Vozinha rolled back the years to produce a performance for the ages as he was named Player of the Match in his country’s historic World Cup debut against Spain.
The 40-year-old goalkeeper was the standout performer in Atlanta, helping the Blue Sharks secure a memorable goalless draw against one of the tournament favourites.
Spain dominated the contest from start to finish, registering 27 shots and controlling possession for long periods, but they repeatedly found themselves denied by the veteran shot-stopper.
Vozinha’s most important intervention came in the first half when he produced a superb save to keep out Mikel Oyarzabal’s close-range header after Ferran Torres had struck the crossbar.
The Cape Verde captain remained composed throughout the match, making seven saves in total as Spain’s attack grew increasingly frustrated.
With La Roja unable to find a breakthrough, coach Luis de la Fuente introduced Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, Dani Olmo and Mikel Merino from the bench in an effort to unlock the stubborn Cabo Verde defence.
Yet even the arrival of Spain’s star names failed to beat Vozinha, who commanded his area superbly and provided the reassurance his team needed during sustained periods of pressure.
His display ensured Cape Verde collected the first World Cup point in their history and underlined the resilience that helped the island nation reach football’s biggest stage.
For a player making his World Cup debut at the age of 40, it was a night to remember. As Spain were left wondering how they had failed to score, there was little doubt over who deserved the individual honours.
Vozinha had turned back the clock, and in doing so became the face of one of the most memorable results in Cape Verdean football history.
