Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha has gained over seven million followers on social media since his heroics kept out Spain.
The 40-year-old produced an incredible performance in Monday’s 0-0 draw in Atlanta, which has seen his following on Instagram skyrocket from 50,000 to 7.6 million.
Only five England players in Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad currently have more followers on the platform – Jude Bellingham, Marcus Rashford, Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka.
“That is insane, I didn’t expect that,” Vozinha told the Men in Blazers podcast of his increased social media following.
The numbers had swelled to 1.1m at full-time, and by 3pm on Tuesday afternoon UK time had surged to 7.6million.
Vozinha said: “Things run fast on Instagram, but I didn’t believe it. I still don’t believe, but it is what it is. Thank you to everyone.
“The World Cup is the big stage in the whole of football and it is every kid’s dream to be here one day.
“When we inspire the next generation, it is always good. To hear kids say one day they want to be Vozinha, I am very grateful.”
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Vozinha made seven crucial saves – the only goalkeeper over 40 years of age to have made more in a World Cup match was Pat Jennings with 10 for Northern Ireland against Brazil in 1986 – to deny Spain, one of the favorites to win the competition.
Cape Verde, which consists of 10 volcanic islands off the coast of West Africa, is the third smallest country by population to qualify for a World Cup, with around 500,000 living there.
As well as going viral on social media, Vozinha became the oldest goalkeeper in World Cup history to keep a clean sheet on his tournament debut.
For Dublin-born Shamrock Rovers defender Roberto Lopes – nicknamed Pico – the clash with Spain proved a career highlight.
He said: “This is the stuff of dreams for me. It’s a pleasure and I’m absolutely privileged to be able to live my dream. I never would have thought it.”
Lopes, who revealed he had his abandoned policy of never swapping shirts after games only to be beaten to Mikel Oyarzabal’s jersey by a team-mate, added: “In a competitive environment, it’s really unusual to be celebrating a draw.
“But I had some time to myself in the dressing room reflecting on it, and that point what that means to us, a first ever point at a World Cup against one of the best teams in the world…
“It’s a very happy moment for us, and I’m very proud of this group.”
Cape Verde returns to action against Uruguay in Miami on Sunday.
