Vozinha (Image credit: X)Cape Verde’s dream run at the FIFA World Cup 2026 has become one of the biggest stories of the tournament. While many football fans expected traditional powerhouses to dominate the headlines, the African nation has emerged as a surprise contender. Their performances have captured global attention and inspired supporters across the world.Much of that attention has focused on veteran goalkeeper Vozinha. The 40-year-old entered the tournament with fewer than 100,000 followers on Instagram. However, his popularity exploded after Cape Verde’s remarkable performances on the world stage. Within days, his social media following increased dramatically, turning him into one of the most talked-about footballers of the tournament.Vozinha’s popularity reaches new heights after FIFA World Cup 2026 performancesVozinha’s rise on social media has been as impressive as his performances on the pitch. Following Cape Verde’s opening match against Spain, his Instagram account gained millions of followers in a short period. The goalkeeper quickly crossed the one-million mark and continued to attract attention from football fans around the world.His follower count soon moved beyond several famous football stars. Reports indicate that he overtook Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who had long been one of the most-followed goalkeepers on Instagram. Vozinha’s popularity did not stop there. He has now reportedly surpassed retired NFL legend Tom Brady as well.Brady currently has around 15.4 million Instagram followers. Vozinha’s account has climbed to approximately 15.6 million followers, placing him ahead of the American sports icon. The achievement highlights the enormous interest generated by Cape Verde’s World Cup journey and the goalkeeper’s standout displays.The biggest moment of Vozinha’s tournament came in Cape Verde’s opening match against Spain. Few expected the African side to compete with the reigning European champions. However, Cape Verde produced a disciplined performance and earned a historic 0-0 draw.Vozinha played a crucial role in securing the result. The experienced goalkeeper produced seven important saves and repeatedly denied Spain’s attacking players. His efforts helped keep a clean sheet and earned him the Man of the Match award.Cape Verde continued their impressive campaign in their second game against Uruguay. The match ended in a 2-2 draw. Although Vozinha could not keep another clean sheet, his teammates delivered an important attacking performance to secure another valuable point.The African nation now stands on the verge of making history. A victory against Saudi Arabia would guarantee Cape Verde a place in the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup. Considering that the team entered the tournament ranked 67th in the FIFA rankings, reaching the last 16 would represent one of the greatest achievements in the country’s football history.