Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha makes World Cup history in Spain draw

Cape Verde secured a momentous 0-0 draw against Spain in their first-ever match at the 2026 World Cup, marking a significant achievement for the debutant nation. The result, beyond earning the team their first point, carries substantial historical weight when examining the match statistics.

The standout performer for Cape Verde was goalkeeper Josimar Dias, widely known as Vozinha. At 40 years old, Vozinha delivered a heroic performance, thwarting the Spanish attack with numerous saves, timely interventions, and commanding aerial presence throughout the 90 minutes. His veteran leadership was crucial in maintaining the clean sheet against a world-class opponent.

Vozinha's age and performance etched his name in World Cup history. He became the third oldest goalkeeper to record a clean sheet in a World Cup game, following football legends Peter Shilton and Dino Zoff. Since 1966, only one goalkeeper aged 40 or older has made more saves (seven) in a single World Cup match than Vozinha did against Spain.

His remarkable display also places him among the top goalkeepers in recent World Cups for saves made in a single game. Between the 2018, 2022, and 2026 tournaments, Vozinha ranks fourth for goalkeepers who have registered seven or more saves in a match. Furthermore, his performance was quantified by a metric measuring prevented goals, where he successfully averted nearly two goals that statistical analysis indicated Spain was likely to score.

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Vozinha (40 anni, 12 giorni) è diventato il terzo portiere più anziano a tenere la porta inviolata in un match intero dei Mondiali FIFA, dopo Peter Shilton (40 anni, 281 giorni) e Dino Zoff (40 anni, 130 giorni). Gigante.