Cape Verde's Vozinha dreams of facing Messi after World Cup heroics

For Cape Verde's goalkeeper Vozinha, facing Lionel Messi was a dream come true. Just weeks before, he was a relatively unknown figure, with around 45,000 Instagram followers whom he used to follow back. This changed dramatically after Cape Verde's surprising 0-0 draw against Spain in the World Cup.

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The most important match of our lives.

Vozinha was instrumental in that match, earning the man of the match award and reducing his team to tears of joy. His phone exploded with notifications, showing nearly 14 million new followers, a number he initially thought was a glitch. Cape Verde, the second-smallest participant in the World Cup, proved to be a resilient and well-organized team, securing a point against Uruguay (2-2) and a draw against Saudi Arabia (0-0).

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I thought: it must be a glitch.

Now, Vozinha finds himself on the same field as Lionel Messi, arguably the tournament's biggest star. He described the encounter as "the dream of every footballer." However, teammates like Sidny Lopes Cabral emphasized the need to focus on the game rather than the opponent's star power, stating, "If I think 'I'm playing against Messi,' I'll go crazy."

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The dream of every footballer.

During the match against Argentina, Messi had an early chance, but his shot went wide. Vozinha, aware of the attempt, adjusted his position. The article highlights the surreal experience for the goalkeeper, who is now sharing the pitch with a global icon, a moment he will likely recount to his children for years to come.

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I have to shut myself off from it. If I think 'I'm playing against Messi,' I'll go crazy.