40-Year-Old Cape Verde Goalkeeper Makes World Cup History vs Spain

Spain entered the 2026 FIFA men’s World Cup as the overwhelming favorite to win the Cup for the first time since 2010.

Barcelona star Lamine Yamal is responsible for a large swath of the world’s confidence in Spain’s success. The 18-year-old wunderkind was on the bench to start Spain’s World Cup opener against Cape Verde, as he works back into peak fitness after suffering a hamstring injury in late April.

Spain wasn’t supposed to need Yamal against Cape Verde, the third-smallest nation to ever qualify for the World Cup, but Cape Verde dragged Spain down into a 0-0 dogfight.

Yamal came on for his World Cup debut in the 71st minute, and while he provided a spark, even he couldn’t get past Vozinha, Cape Verde’s 40-year-old goalkeeper.

Spain recorded 27 shots, including seven shots on goal, but Vozinha saved all seven to preserve a 0-0 draw for Cape Verde - the nation’s first point in its first World Cup match in its history. Vozinha, born Josimar José Évora Dias, was named Man of the Match.

“Vozinha made 7 saves vs. Spain, preventing an xG of 1.46, the joint-best goalkeeping performance at the World Cup so far in terms of xG prevented,” Statman Dave posted on X. “At 40, the oldest goalkeeper ever to keep a clean sheet at the World Cup.”

Cape Verde’s heroics defined the most stunning match of this World Cup so far, and it’s definitively an unforeseen start to Group H play. Uruguay and Saudi Arabia will open their World Cup runs later Monday. Spain should be fine moving forward and remain the favorite to win the group.

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This story was originally published June 15, 2026 at 12:52 PM.