Gary Neville wondered aloud about Vozinha, Cape Verde's goalkeeper, asking where the player had been hiding all this time. Yet that misses the essence of the underdog narrative. Their draw comes from appearing suddenly without prior notice. Recent weeks have delivered several such tales thanks to Arthur Fery, Maja Chwalinska and Cape Verde.

Fery's run ended in the Wimbledon semi-final against Alexander Zverev. Only the top four teams remain in the World Cup. Still the surprise runs stay memorable. At world number 114 Fery became the lowest-ranked player to reach a grand slam semi-final in years, matching Chwalinska's feat at the French Open where she also stood at 114 and advanced as a qualifier to the final, a rare achievement in the open era.

Interestingly the first player outside the top 100 to reach a major semi-final, Patrick McEnroe in 1991, shared the same ranking of 114 and also competed for Stanford in college tennis. Could anyone have predicted these outcomes?

Until last year Fery had not even reached an ATP 1000 event or claimed a grand slam victory. Chwalinska started the French Open in plain mismatched clothing before securing sponsorship. Cape Verde sat at 69th in global rankings and advanced to the last 32.

Such accounts captivate because they arrive without warning. Athletes display a visible form of talent that sets them apart, as noted by writer David Foster Wallace. While top performers highlight the distance between elite skill and ordinary ability, underdogs offer a bridge that lets fans imagine stepping into their shoes. Cape Verde defender Pico Lopes initially dismissed a recruitment message as junk mail.

When childhood friend Iga Swiatek rose to prominence Chwalinska's own doubts grew stronger despite her pride in Swiatek's success. She wondered about her own place at the same age while others collected titles.

This feeling surfaces when watching Fery, the stocky British player with a youthful look who enjoys classic films. Standing much shorter than the tall Zverev at the net he appeared outmatched. After her quarter-final win Chwalinska urged fans to hope for affordable hotel rates since she had not planned to stay long in Paris and prize money arrives slowly.

Fans cherish the instances when underdogs exceed expectations and compete fiercely against superior opponents. Cape Verde's draw with Spain might have involved luck yet their display against Argentina showed real quality including a stunning goal and a standout performance from the veteran goalkeeper. These flashes of brilliance create lasting appeal.

Underdogs often ride their own stories but reality can intrude. Chwalinska led briefly before falling to a young star. Fery missed a lob yet fought back in key moments while supporters remained hopeful. The divide usually proves too wide yet brief periods allow the fantasy that anything remains possible. A low-ranked entrant can topple a top seed. A small nation might challenge the world's best. Such thoughts inspire belief in personal potential. Underdogs lose their matches but their runs create moments of shared excitement. Cape Verde players celebrated an equalizer before later seeking photos with Messi, revealing both triumph and the human side of the journey.