How Cape Verde’s Vozinha emerged as World Cup superstar and Instagram sensation

Part of the beauty of this World Cup 2026 has been the stardom experienced by previously unknown players now starring on a new stage for the genuine underdogs. None other than Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha demonstrates this, with his heroics frustrating Spain in a 0-0 draw, leading to the 40-year-old’s Instagram following to sky rocket. Vozinha gasped and laughed, in shock as his 50,000 followers ballooned to more than 1 million, and then 24 hours after the game, his total touched 10 million. To add perspective, that is more than NBA superstar and France international Victor Wembanyama (6.2 million) and NFL quarterback Patrick Mahomes (6.4 million). “Crazy, that’s crazy,” Vozinha told Brazilian YouTube channel CazéTV after the match, which catapulted him to becoming one of the biggest new names of the World Cup so far. Vozinha was tearful, though, not only due to the history created on the pitch with Cape Verde, but the absence of his mother in the stadium, with issues over her visa. CazéTV, the only channel in Brazil with the rights to all 104 World Cup games, has taken credit for his rise in popularity. CazéTV, anchored by the popular Brazilian streamer Casimiro Miguel, used its
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