Vozinha Preserves 1-1 Draw With 72nd-Minute Save on Messi Free Kick

Q: As Messi ties the all-time scoring record, can a 40-year-old keeper from the World Cup's smallest nation end his historic quest?

Yes — at least for now, Vozinha has shown he can delay Messi’s chase. The 40-year-old Cape Verde goalkeeper made the defining intervention of the Round of 32 match in Miami, reacting quickly to Messi’s 72nd-minute free kick and preserving a 1-1 score with his fourth save of the game. That matters because Messi entered the match level with Miroslav Klose on the all-time World Cup scoring list, and every chance now carries historic weight. Vozinha is not an unlikely one-moment story. He has been one of the standout goalkeepers of the tournament, keeping a clean sheet against Spain on Cape Verde’s World Cup debut and stopping seven shots in that match. His age is notable, but for goalkeepers it can also mean experience, positioning and composure — all of which were evident against Messi. Cape Verde’s broader run gives the save even more significance. The Blue Sharks are the smallest nation ever to reach the men’s World Cup knockout stage, and they arrived unbeaten from the group phase. Holding Argentina level deep into the second half showed this is not merely a sentimental underdog story. Messi’s quest is far from over; one save does not stop a player of his quality from breaking the record later in this match or later in the tournament. But Vozinha has already proved that even football’s biggest milestone can be interrupted by a veteran goalkeeper from its smallest World Cup nation.

2 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · Jul 3

A 72nd-minute leaping stop by Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha denied Lionel Messi from close range and kept Argentina level at 1-1 in the World Cup round of 32.
The 40-year-old reacted before his defenders did after the referee whistled for the free kick; while the wall was still organizing, Messi shot quickly and Vozinha sprang to push it away.
That intervention was Vozinha's fourth save of the match, rescuing Cape Verde after Messi had been fouled to earn the chance.
The knockout game in Miami Gardens sends the winner on to face Australia or Egypt in the round of 16 on July 7.