Updated
Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jul 4
Vozinha Reveals Messi Shirt Swap After Cape Verde's 3-2 World Cup Exit
Updated
Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jul 4

Vozinha Reveals Messi Shirt Swap After Cape Verde's 3-2 World Cup Exit

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jul 4

Summary

  • Vozinha said Lionel Messi hugged him after Cape Verde’s 3-2 extra-time loss to Argentina, told him "your people should be proud," and agreed to swap shirts in the tunnel.
  • 111th-minute own goal ended Cape Verde’s upset bid after they twice equalized in regular time and again in the 103rd minute before finally bowing out in the Round of 32.
  • 18 saves in four games made Vozinha the face of Cape Verde’s run; he finished the tournament with a 78.3% save percentage and a team-best 7.63 average rating.
  • Cape Verde had been given little chance to reach the knockouts, yet advanced ahead of Uruguay and Saudi Arabia and pushed the defending champions to the brink.

Insights

How did a 'morabeza' philosophy and global diaspora forge Cape Verde's World Cup fairytale?
Can Cape Verde's World Cup success become a blueprint for other small nations?