“I have worked my whole life for this moment.”-Vozinha

The World Cup kicked off this week and a 40 year old from the smallest nation in the tournament shocked the world in 90 minutes.

Cape Verde is a tiny island nation off the coast of Africa.

Population: 500,000 (Atlanta metro has 6,500,000)

Cape Verde FIFA ranking: 67th

They had never played in the World Cup. Ever.

Their opponent in the first match: Mighty Spain . Ranked #2 in the world. Reigning European champions. A roster worth over a billion dollars. A bench full of players who would start for any other country on earth.

Cape Verde’s goalkeeper?  A 40 year old named Vozinha.

He didn’t turn pro until he was 25.

The same year Spain’s young superstar Lamine Yamal was born.

Vozinha has spent his entire career being overlooked.

And then came Monday.

Spain fired 27 shots at him. He battled all of them and kept Spain scoreless.

A team worth a Billion VS a 40 year old who is a part time electrician by day.

For 90 minutes, one of the greatest teams on the planey thrrew everything they had at a 40 year old goalkeeper from an island of half a million people.

Spain’s final score: 0

When the final whistle blew, he didn’t celebrate. He cried.

Because his mother, a house cleaner back in Cape Verde, couldn’t afford the visa to be there.

After his performance, his mother was granted a visa and will be at his match on Monday to watch her son.

A 40 year old goal keeper nobody knew.

A mother who couldn’t afford a visa.

A Cape Verde team that had to recruit players on Linkedin. True story.

And they shut out one of the greatest teams in the world.

That is what courage looks like when nobody’s watching.

That is what happens when you refuse to stop dreaming at 25, at 30, at 40.

That is what the World Cup is for.

Dash of Courage

This week, stop telling yourself it’s too late

Not because the odds are in your favor.

Not because someone told you it’s your time.

Because it’s your dream and you’re not done yet.

Vozinha waited 40 years for 90 minutes.

And when his time came, he was ready.

Your moment doesn’t care how old you are.

It only cares that you’re still there when it shows up.

Courage over comfort,

Garrett

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