Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha says his sudden rise to global fame after the 2026 World Cup has left him longing for the privacy and tranquillity he enjoyed before the tournament.
The 40-year-old, whose full name is Josimar Dias, became one of the breakout figures of Cape Verde’s historic World Cup campaign after producing a player-of-the-match performance against Spain. Vozinha made seven saves to keep Spain scoreless in Cape Verde’s 0-0 draw. His performance also sent his social media following soaring.
His popularity grew further as Cape Verde progressed through the tournament. The island nation, making its World Cup debut after six unsuccessful qualification attempts, went unbeaten in the group stage. Cape Verde drew 0-0 with Spain, 2-2 with Uruguay and 0-0 with Saudi Arabia before facing Argentina in the Round of 32. Although Argentina eventually won 3-2 after extra time, Vozinha made eight saves during the match. He finished the tournament with 18 saves and a 78 per cent save rate, placing him among the leading goalkeepers at the competition and ahead of several established names in the position.
The attention, however, has come at a personal cost. Before the World Cup, Vozinha lived a relatively quiet life playing in Portugal’s second division with Chaves, a club based in a city of about 40,000 people.
“I’ve Lost My Peace”
Speaking to The Observer, he said his increased profile had significantly reduced his privacy.
“I no longer have any privacy, or at least much less than I used to,” Vozinha said.
He explained that ordinary activities such as going to restaurants had become difficult because people frequently approached him for photographs and autographs, while others filmed him without permission. “I’ve lost my peace and tranquillity,” he said, adding that he would choose his previous life over the fame he now experiences.
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Vozinha signed a short-term contract with Chilean club Colo-Colo after the World Cup, further exposing him to public attention. His future at the club beyond 2026 could depend on whether he activates an automatic one-year extension that requires him to appear in at least half of the club’s matches from the date of his arrival.
Despite his discomfort with fame, Vozinha remains committed to Cape Verde. He reversed an earlier decision to retire from international football and continued playing as the country pursued qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations.
He made a costly error in Cape Verde’s 3-1 defeat by Mali in the first round of AFCON qualifying. However, head coach Humberto Bettencourt has backed the veteran goalkeeper to recover ahead of the meeting with Rwanda.
