Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha has become one of the breakout stars of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with his outstanding performances sparking a remarkable surge in his Instagram following.
Before Cape Verde's opening match of the tournament, the veteran shot-stopper's account had 437 posts, just over 46,000 followers and was following 2,170 accounts.
By the end of the country's historic World Cup campaign, the figures had soared to 448 posts, 19.1 million followers and 2,160 accounts followed.
The goalkeeper's Instagram audience grew from about 1.5 million followers in June to 19.1 million in July—an increase of more than 18 million during the tournament.
The extraordinary rise reflects the global attention generated by Cape Verde's fairytale run at the World Cup, where the tournament debutants won admirers across the globe with a series of spirited performances.
Despite a population of just over 530,000, Cape Verde emerged as one of the surprise packages of the competition, earning widespread support from neutral fans throughout the tournament.
Vozinha's commanding displays between the posts played a pivotal role in the island nation's impressive campaign, cementing his status as one of the standout goalkeepers of the 2026 World Cup.
