​I’m spending the summer in Mexico City, and watching World Cup games amid such a fervent crowd has been nothing short of exhilarating. Every match is a spectacle, with bars and restaurants lined with TVs blasting the action and crowds soaking in the thrill while sipping chelas—beer for those not fluent in Spanish. For group-stage play, I’ve been cozy on my sofa, but after seeing Mexico push through the group phase with authority, I was determined to catch as many knockout games as possible in a packed bar, letting the atmosphere wash over me. I’m incredibly glad I did.
About a half-hour before Argentina versus Cape Verde kicked off on Friday afternoon, I wandered the streets in search of a bar with comfortable seating and multiple screens. Neither requirement seemed met—the bars were already overflowing—so I settled for a cocktail joint that had a single television and watched from the bar, Maker’s Mark neat in hand. What I saw was a room full of people rooting for Cape Verde, the defending champions pushed aside for a moment by a nation that’s just 590,000 strong and sits roughly 400 miles off the west coast of Africa.
Cape Verde was among the teams making its World Cup debut after FIFA expanded the tournament from 32 to 48 teams. Before qualification, not much was known about the small island nation, which ranked 67th globally. Yet by the end of the tournament, Cape Verde had endeared itself to fans around the world with its grit and determination, nearly pulling off a remarkable upset in the Round of 32. Mexicans, Brazilians, and English fans crowded around that single TV, all hoping for Cape Verde to topple a heavyweight in spectacular fashion. When Sidny Lopes Cabral equalized in the 103rd minute, the bar erupted and someone ordered a round of tequila with lime to toast the moment.
The Blue Sharks pushed Lionel Messi and Argentina into extra time with inspirational equalizers, keeping themselves alive even as Argentina ultimately prevailed 3–2. There was no denying that Cape Verde belonged on the world stage and had earned global respect through a fearless, late-blooming performance. The standout story of the match was not just the scoreboard but the grit on display and the impression Cape Verde left on fans worldwide.
In particular, Cape Verde goalkeeper Josimar José Évora Dias—affectionately known as Vozinha—captured the hearts of millions with seven saves against Argentina and superbly stifling defenses to hold Spain to a 0–0 draw and Uruguay to a 2–2 result. He entered the tournament with a modest following—just over 50,000 on Instagram—but finished with a surge of fans that dwarfed many high-profile accounts. By the time Cape Verde’s campaign ended, Vozinha’s online presence had grown astonishingly, rising above the follower counts of notable figures and brands alike.
That’s right: Vozinha’s star power exploded, a remarkable leap that would help him stand out even beyond the pitch.