Vozinha (Josimar Dias)

Known to the world by just one name, Vozinha announced himself on the grandest stage possible at the 2026 FIFA World Cup - and the world will not forget it anytime soon.

Born Josimar Jose Evora Dias on June 3, 1986, in Mindelo, Sao Vicente, Cape Verde, the 40-year-old goalkeeper earned his iconic nickname from his grandparents, who raised him while his parents worked. "No one in Cape Verde knew me like that by name," he once said, "but when I arrived in Angola, there was another goalkeeper named Josimar - so I kept Vozinha."

Standing 1.89m tall, Vozinha built his career across Angola, Moldova, Portugal, and Cyprus before settling at Liga Portugal 2 side Chaves. He made his Cape Verde debut in 2012 - at age 25, later than most - and went on to make over 80 appearances for the Blue Sharks, becoming captain and a cornerstone of the nation's footballing identity. He featured at four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments (2013, 2015, 2021, 2023) before finally getting his shot at the World Cup.

That moment came on June 15, 2026, in Atlanta - Cape Verde's very first World Cup match, against Spain. What followed became one of the greatest individual goalkeeping performances in World Cup history. Facing 13 first-half attempts alone, Vozinha made 7 crucial saves, keeping a clean sheet in a stunning 0-0 draw that stopped Spain cold. He won Man of the Match, pointed to his chest after every save, and broke down in tears in his post-match interview - dedicating the performance to his late grandparents and his mother, who couldn't attend due to visa costs.

In the hours after the match, his Instagram following exploded from 50,000 to over 5 million. But Vozinha's story was never about social media - it was about patience, perseverance, and proving that it's never too late to live your dream.

Cape Verde still have Uruguay and Saudi Arabia to face in Group H. With Vozinha between the posts, nothing is impossible.