Cape Verde hold Spain to 0-0 draw as 40-year-old Vozinha shines in World Cup opener
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Cape Verde earned their first-ever World Cup point on Tuesday, holding Spain to a 0-0 draw in the group stage of the 2026 tournament. Goalkeeper Vozinha, a 40-year-old of Cuban descent, produced seven saves to anchor the result and was named man of the match.
Visibly emotional after the final whistle, Vozinha said the moment belonged to his two grandfathers, who died two years ago. His Instagram following jumped from roughly 50,000 before the match to 1.8 million afterward, reflecting the wider attention his performance drew.
Cape Verde coach Pedro Leito Brito said Vozinha's experience and composure gave the team confidence throughout the game. FIFA also paid tribute to the goalkeeper, posting a message emphasizing that success in the sport has no age limit.
Cape Verde will face Uruguay in their second group match, while Spain play Saudi Arabia.
