Cape Verde Goalkeeper Vozinha Overtakes Tom Brady On Social Media After Surpassing Manuel Neuer As Followers Surge

While many had different teams pegged as potential dark horses ahead of the FIFA World Cup, the spotlight has increasingly shifted to one surprise package: the African nation of Cape Verde.

Their impressive run has captured widespread attention and excitement, with much of the credit going to goalkeeper Vozinha, whose heroic and commanding performances have played a key role in their rise.

However, he has now taken things a step further, capturing attention far beyond football circles and even overtaking a globally recognized name in US sports and the NFL in popularity and social media impact.

This is certainly a remarkable achievement for the 40-year-old goalkeeper. While it may not be directly related to on-field success, it underlines the massive attention he has attracted — largely driven by his standout performances.

When Cape Verde began their FIFA World Cup campaign against reigning Euro 2024 champions Spain, few would have imagined them coming away with even a single point, which could have marked a historic first in their footballing journey.

They managed to hold Luis de la Fuente’s side to a goalless draw over the full 90 minutes, with neither team able to break the deadlock despite sustained pressure from the Spanish attack.

The 41-year-old Josimar Dias, also known as Vozinha, was named Man of the Match after a standout performance in which he made seven crucial saves to deny the opposition and keep his side in the game.

In their second game, Cape Verde earned a 2–2 draw against Uruguay. Though goalkeeper Vozinha was unable to secure a clean sheet, the team’s attack stepped up to rescue a valuable point.

A win against Saudi Arabia would guarantee the African side a place in the knockout stage, a historic milestone for a nation that began the tournament ranked 67th in the FIFA rankings.

Since then, they have already climbed four places after their first two matches.

Ojas Jaiswal is a Content Producer at Hindustan Times, currently working with the US Desk, where he covers a wide spectrum of American sports and global news developments. From high-intensity NFL moments on the field to the latest off-court NBA storylines, he specializes in delivering engaging, audience-driven stories that blend factual accuracy with compelling narratives. A graduate in Journalism and Mass Communication from Bennett University, Ojas brings over two years of experience in digital journalism. Before joining Hindustan Times, he worked with EssentiallySports, a leading digital sports media platform catering to American sports audiences, where he contributed across multiple editorial and engagement-focused roles. He also interned with Times Network at the Sports Desk, producing articles and video content across diverse sports, ranging from Formula 1 to football. Known for his commitment to factual and accurate reporting, Ojas was awarded a Certificate of Excellence in Editing during his college years. Beyond sports journalism, he closely follows international affairs and global developments, while also exploring documentaries from different cultures and regions around the world. A lifelong football enthusiast, Ojas has admired Lionel Messi since childhood and continues to draw inspiration from the football icon’s journey and legacy.Read More