Fifteen saves, one point: Room leads Curacao to World Cup history

Curacao goalkeeper Eloy Room etched his name in World Cup history on Saturday, making a staggering 15 saves to secure a 0-0 draw against Ecuador and earn his nation its first-ever World Cup point. The performance was the most saves recorded in a 90-minute match in the tournament's history, a remarkable feat for the smallest nation ever to compete on the world stage, with a population of about 156,000.

Room, the oldest player in the Curacao squad at 37, withstood relentless pressure from the Ecuadorian attack. His saves included a close-range stop from Enner Valencia early in the match and a second-half header, thwarting every attempt to break the deadlock. Only Tim Howard of the United States has made more saves in a single World Cup match, with 16 in an extra-time game in 2014.

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I was not thinking about that during the game.

"I was not thinking about that during the game," Room told reporters, though he playfully expressed annoyance at not surpassing Howard's record. He emphasized that the draw was a collective team effort. Ecuador's goalkeeper, Hernan Galindez, acknowledged Room's exceptional performance, stating he "had the game of his life."

This historic achievement extends beyond the pitch. Room's Instagram following surged from under 100,000 to around 700,000, mirroring the social media boom experienced by Cape Verde's goalkeeper Vozinha after a similar standout performance. The match also attracted royalty, with King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands in attendance. Room shared that the royals celebrated with the team afterward, and the queen even kissed him, underscoring the magnitude of the moment for Curacao.

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Curacao! We got a point! This is history!