I couldn’t afford to bring my mother to World Cup: Cape Verde hero Vózinha

Cape Verde goalkeeper Vózinha has revealed the emotional reason behind his tearful reaction after inspiring his country to a historic goalless draw against Spain in their FIFA World Cup 2026 debut.

Moments after the final whistle, the 40-year-old goalkeeper dropped to his knees before breaking down in tears as teammates rushed to celebrate one of the greatest results in Cape Verdean football history. The African debutants stunned tournament favourites Spain with a resilient 0–0 draw, and Vózinha was widely regarded as the standout performer.

The veteran shot-stopper produced a string of crucial saves to frustrate Spain throughout the match, earning praise from global sports arena and teammates alike. Yet, despite the historic achievement, his thoughts immediately turned to family members who were unable to witness the occasion in person.

"I cried after the match because I was raised by my grandparents," Vózinha said. "They could not be here today and, sadly, they passed away a few years ago. My mother could not come either. Because of visa issues and financial difficulties, we couldn't arrange everything in time."

The emotional revelation added another layer to an already remarkable World Cup story for Cape Verde, one of the smallest nations ever to compete on football's biggest stage.

Vózinha's performance drew widespread acclaim from football observers. Former Scotland winger and BBC analyst Pat Nevin described the goalkeeper as the defining figure of the match.

"Vózinha was outstanding throughout the game," Nevin said. "To produce that level of performance at 40 years of age is incredible. At the final whistle, every camera was focused on him, and his teammates were pointing towards the man who had been their true hero."

Former England defender Lee Dixon echoed those sentiments, admitting the scenes after the match were deeply moving.

"I genuinely felt emotional watching him," Dixon said. "Cape Verde deserved that point. This was their night. Seeing Vózinha in tears almost brought tears to my eyes as well."