Vozinha: Cape Verde goalkeeper regrets fame after World Cup breakthrough

Vozinha, Cape Verde's goalkeeper, has expressed deep regret about the sudden international fame following his standout performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The 40-year-old player, now with Chilean club Colo-Colo, told British newspaper The Observer that he has lost his peace and privacy after the 0-0 draw against Spain brought him global recognition.

Vozinha's popularity exploded during the World Cup campaign when Brazilian streaming platform CazéTV organized a social media drive during the Spain match. His Instagram followers jumped from approximately 50,000 to over 1 million in hours, eventually reaching 25-28 million by tournament's end. The goalkeeper described the experience as overwhelming, saying he was shocked when a CazéTV journalist showed him his viral status during a post-match interview. To manage the distraction, he disabled Instagram notifications to avoid constantly checking follower counts.

The goalkeeper reported that his daily life has become difficult, with constant requests for photos, autographs, and unauthorized filming in public spaces like restaurants. "I lost my peace and tranquility," he stated. "If offered the choice between my life today or the life I had before, I would choose the life I had before." Despite acknowledging the positive aspects of his newfound status—such as serving as an ambassador for Cape Verde's development—Vozinha made clear his discomfort with unwanted attention.

Vozinha has been selective about commercial partnerships, accepting only one promotional collaboration with a mobile phone company during the tournament and declining offers from tobacco, alcohol, and gambling companies. He emphasized that Cape Verde's historic performance—which included remaining undefeated in regular time before losing to Argentina in the knockout stage—was a collective effort. He expressed hope that the team's success would help develop his country and improve living conditions for its people. Vozinha was subsequently nominated for the Ballon d'Or Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper in 2025-26.