🚨Lionel Scaloni on Vozinha after Argentina’s victory over Cape Verde:
🗣️ “Usually, when Argentina create that many chances, the game opens up and becomes easier. Against Vozinha… every save felt like another kickoff. Every time we thought we’d found the breakthrough, he was there again with another unbelievable stop.
He was exceptional tonight. His positioning, his reactions, his bravery coming off his line—everything was at the highest level. As a coach, you actually begin to admire a goalkeeper like that, even when he’s making your job much harder.
I told my players at halftime that we couldn’t become frustrated because he was having one of those special nights. Goalkeepers can win matches on their own, and for long periods, Vozinha almost did exactly that for Cape Verde.
That’s what the World Cup is about. Players who many people didn’t know a few weeks ago suddenly show the entire world their quality. Tonight, Vozinha announced himself on the biggest stage in football.
We found a way to win in the end, but I have nothing but respect for him. Cape Verde stayed in this game because of their organisation, their courage, and because they had a goalkeeper who refused to give up. Performances like that deserve recognition, regardless of the result.”
🚨BREAKING: Lisandro Martínez on Argentina’s Narrow Win Over Cape Verde:
🎙️Reporter: Lisandro, many expected Argentina to win comfortably. Why was it so difficult?
🗣️Lisandro Martínez: Honestly, in my whole career, I’ve never played a game this tough. I never believed an African team could put us under this much pressure. Cape Verde surprised every one of us.
🎙️Reporter: Did Argentina deserve the win?
🗣️Lisandro Martínez: We got the three points, but if I’m being honest, we were lucky. Cape Verde dominated most of the game. They won almost every duel, created better chances, and made us suffer until the final whistle.
🎙️Reporter: So what’s your opinion of Cape Verde now?
🗣️Lisandro Martínez: They deserve much more respect. If they keep playing like this, they’ll shock a lot of big teams. We won tonight, but they were the better team for most of the match. Sometimes football isn’t fair.
Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha caught up with @ngedra after the Blue Sharks' incredible run at the 2026 FIFA World Cup came to an end in the Round of 32 🇨🇻
Vozinha in 90 minutes vs. Argentina:
▪️7 saves
▪️100% successful dribbles
▪️100% ground duels won
▪️2 passes into the final third
▪️8 recoveries
▪️1 defensive contribution
This guy 🤯
🚨 David Beckham on Cape Verde’s elimination after pushing Argentina to extra time in the FIFA World Cup:
🗣️ “This is the cruelest side of football. Cape Verde have been eliminated, but they leave this tournament with something far more important than just a scoreline—they leave with the respect of the entire football world. They took the defending world champions all the way into extra time and made Argentina fight for every single minute. Nobody expected that before kick-off.
When I think about this performance, I think about Vozinha first. His saves kept Cape Verde alive when many teams would have collapsed. Then you have Deroy Duarte and Sydney Lopes, two players who will forever be remembered in their country’s football history. They scored against Argentina, they believed when so many people doubted them, and they gave millions of Cape Verdeans a night they will never forget.
People will only remember that Argentina qualified, but those who truly understand football will remember how close Cape Verde came to creating one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history. They never hid, they never stopped running, and they never accepted that they were supposed to lose. Every challenge, every tackle, every attack showed a team playing with pride, courage, and absolute belief.
This is not a story of failure. This is a story of a nation announcing itself to the football world. Cape Verde arrived at this World Cup as outsiders, but they leave having proven they belong on the biggest stage. They stretched the world champions to their absolute limit, forced them into extra time, and made them earn every second of their qualification.
Football can be incredibly unfair. Sometimes the team that captures the hearts of everyone watching is not the team that advances. But no whistle can erase what Cape Verde have achieved. Vozinha, Deroy Duarte, Sydney Lopes, and every player wearing that shirt have inspired a generation. Argentina continue their journey, but Cape Verde leave this World Cup as heroes.”
🚨🎙️Lionel Messi 🇦🇷:
“It’s no coincidence that Cape Verde didn’t lose against Spain and Uruguay. They’re a very strong team, and they have my respect.” 💪🇨🇻
🚨🗣 Lionel Messi on Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha:
🗣Journalist: The cape Verde goalkeeper denied you so many goals today....
🗣Messi: "I was a bit frustrated after so many attempts but, I got one goal which was very important, they told me he is 40 years old and to be honest, i was amazed by his performance today"
🗣"I walked up to him at full time and he congratulated me"