With a population of just over half a million, the tiny nation of Cape Verde achieved one of the most magical results ever in a FIFA World Cup game, by drawing nil all with Spain, the country largely tipped to win the tournament.
Spain launched no fewer than seven powerful shots on target (and 27 in total), but couldn’t get past Cape Verde’s 40-year-old goalkeeper, who has since turned social media sensation, Vozinha.
Vozinha was in tears at the end of the game.
And I couldn’t think of a better image of masculinity. A moment of pure joy following more than 90 minutes of physical and mental endurance and extraordinary athleticism that saw him deflecting balls in seemingly impossible ways.
Elsewhere, in another sport, a victorious athlete was resorting to misogynistic and populist slurs in a bid to gain attention. More on that in a moment, because Vozinha deserves this.
As he openly wept, Vozinha told reporters about the loved ones he was missing.
“I cry because I grew up with my grandparents, and unfortunately, they are not here. They died a few years before, and they were everything, everything for me,” he said.
“And also because of my mum. She didn’t manage to be here because … of the money we have to pay for the visa. We didn’t manage on time. I would have liked [her] to be here, but I’m very happy also, and I’m very happy for all the Cabo Verdeans.”
It was Cape Verde’s first-ever World Cup game and Vozinha’s biggest-ever career moment. But his mother couldn’t attend the game to watch her son play because of the United States’ excessively costly visa requirements for his country.
His coach, Bubista, said that his key player was “overwhelmed with emotion” and noted how much he has struggled through many years to get to the world stage. “It was also a cry of resilience,” he said.
Vozinha’s feats have gone viral. He had 56,000 Instagram followers before Monday’s game. He now has 10.4 million.
He didn’t achieve the social media following through stunts or outrage and clickbait, he captured attention through brilliance. A fresh role model with a global audience.
And a flick through his older posts on social media, and he’s no stranger to getting emotional posts games and hugging and supporting his team mates. He’s no stranger to openly demonstrating love and gratitude and remaining humble in the moment.
Meanwhile, a misogynistic slur elsewhere…
Vozinha and his team’s brilliant and unexpected stand against Spain – and the way they handled themselves afterwards – couldn’t have been better contrasted with another, very different attempt at masculinity being shared elsewhere.
On the lawns of the White House, Trump celebrated his 80th birthday with a cage fight. Called UFC Freedom 250 (to also mark the 250th anniversary of the United States) the fighters walked from the Oval Office to the octagon to compete in front of a crowd bombarded with promotions for an exclusive gold medallion presented by Trump Coin in what is just Trump’s latest attempt to cash in on his second term in office.
The knockout winner, heavyweight Josh Hokit, took a different approach to Vozinha when celebrating his feat of power and endurance during his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan. For reasons unknown, he moved to stir up the crowd with a misogynistic, heard-it-before, racist trope targeting a former first lady. “Michelle Obama is a man. Am I right, America?”
Hokit showed sheer weakness in that moment. Resorting to an attack when he could have simply accepted the celebration. Resorting to a pathetic attempt at capturing attention, when he already had the literal attention of the US President, a physical crowd, and those following along on TV.
And back to Vozinha, I couldn’t think of a better demonstration of strength in his post-match words.
Two displays of physical power, but only one of them was actual strength. One such display fought to dominate, humiliate and generate hate. The other demonstrated endurance, gratitude and love.
While UFC boss Dana White later dismissed the comment as “nasty and false,” the White House issued no apology.
Meanwhile, US House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has now asked the Trump administration to help Vozinha’s mother attend his next World Cup match in Florida on June 21. “No mother should miss the chance to see her child make history,” Jeffries shared on social media.
Yep, the same power that staged a US$60 million masculinity party also kept a mother being present during her son’s finest hour.