Thierry Henry on Cape Verde’s 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha after his 7 saves vs Spain national football team:
🗣️ “I have to give him real credit. At 40 years old, to produce that kind of performance at a World Cup against Spain is unbelievable.
Let’s be honest, Spain could have been two or three goals up inside the first half alone. But every time they thought they had scored, Vozinha said ‘not today’.
What impressed me wasn’t just the saves, it was the timing. Big moments, one-on-one situations, reflex stops he was always there.
At that age, most goalkeepers are thinking about slowing down, managing their career, maybe stepping aside. He looked like he was just getting started.
You could see the Spanish attackers getting frustrated. That’s when you know a goalkeeper is having a special night he’s not just saving shots, he’s breaking rhythm and confidence.
Seven saves doesn’t even tell the full story. It felt like every attack had to go through him first.
And nights like this are why people love football. Because sometimes one man decides he is not going to let history be written easily.”
Luis Figo on Vozinha’s performance against Spain national football team:
🗣️ “If you watched that match, you cannot talk about a normal goalkeeper performance. Vozinha didn’t just make saves he changed the entire game.
Spain could easily have been 3 or 4 goals up. I’m talking about clear chances, not half chances. But every time they thought it was in, he produced something unbelievable.
At this level, when a team like Spain gets that many opportunities and still doesn’t score, you have to look at the goalkeeper first and he was outstanding.
What impressed me most was his confidence. It felt like nothing was getting past him. The more Spain attacked, the stronger he became.
People will talk about Spain missing chances, but the truth is simple: Vozinha stopped a game that should have been decided early.
That is a performance that wins you respect from everyone in football.”
💔🇨🇻 La emotiva confesión de Vozinha, arquero de Cabo Verde, tras el histórico partido ante España.
“Trabajé toda mi vida para vivir este momento. Muchas generaciones soñaron con algo así y no pudieron lograrlo. Nosotros estamos aquí porque luchamos muchísimo para conseguirlo y merecíamos estar en este Mundial”.
Pero lo más duro llegó después:
“Después del partido lloré. Crecí con mis abuelos y ellos ya no están aquí para verlo. Lo dieron todo por mí. Mi mamá tampoco pudo venir por un problema con la visa; no conseguimos el dinero para completar el trámite a tiempo. Me hubiera encantado que estuviera aquí conmigo”.
🥹 Aun así, Vozinha cerró con orgullo:
“Estoy muy feliz por todo el pueblo de Cabo Verde”.
El fútbol también cuenta historias como esta 🇨🇻⚽️
Jamie Carragher on Japan leaving their World Cup dressing room spotless after the match:
🗣️ “I have to say, this deserves just as much attention as anything that happened on the pitch tonight. Everyone talks about goals, assists, and tactics, but this tells you everything about the culture of that team.
When I saw the dressing room, I honestly couldn't believe it. After ninety minutes of football, emotions running high, and a dramatic result, they still left the place looking like nobody had even been there.
People might look at it and think it's a small thing. It isn't. Small habits reveal big character. Respect doesn't only show itself during the national anthem or after the final whistle. It shows itself when nobody is watching.
That's what impresses me about Japan. They don't clean the dressing room because FIFA tells them to. They do it because it's who they are.
In football today, we're constantly hearing players talk about professionalism. Well, this is professionalism. Not social media posts. Not interviews. Actions.
And if I'm being honest, there are a lot of teams with bigger reputations that could learn something from this.
The scary thing is that this mentality often translates onto the pitch. Teams that respect every detail usually don't stop at cleaning dressing rooms��they respect every pass, every tackle, every minute of the game.
That's why people around the world keep talking about Japan. Not because they're trying to get attention, but because they keep earning it. In a tournament full of stars, they've managed to remind everyone that class doesn't always come from what you do with the ball it comes from how you carry yourself when the game is over.”