At 40 years old, Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha was never expected to be one of the stars of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Nicknamed “Little Granny,” he had spent his career playing across six countries with only one domestic trophy to his name.
But everything changed when he produced a stunning performance to keep Spain scoreless in a 0-0 draw, making several crucial saves and becoming an overnight sensation.
Now one of the tournament’s most talked-about players, Vozinha is not only proud of what he has achieved so far but is also hoping for an opportunity to face Lionel Messi. In a recent interview, he was asked the question many football fans have been waiting to hear: what does he think about playing against Messi?
I would really love to play against Lionel Messi and maybe even get his shirt,” said Vozinha, the Cape Verde goalkeeper.
Despite being a goalkeeper whose job is to stop strikers, Vozinha remains a true football fan at heart.
When asked to imagine Cape Verde leading 1-0 in the final minutes, with Messi stepping up to take a penalty against him, Vozinha smiled at the thought.
That alone would be amazing. It would be a dream come true to save a penalty from Messi,” he said.
And if saving the penalty meant Messi might refuse to swap shirts afterward?
That’s football,” Vozinha replied. “We are here to compete and make life difficult for our opponents.”