Vozinha Joins Colo Colo: Cape Verde's World Cup Star Heads to Chile
Vozinha, the 40-year-old goalkeeper who lit up Cape Verde’s World Cup adventure, is heading to South America to join Colo Colo, the Chilean giants have confirmed.
Club president Aníbal Mosa announced the move on Friday, outlining a swift arrival and presentation for one of the most unexpected stars of the tournament.
“Vozinha is set to become a Colo Colo player; he will arrive in Chile in the coming days, undergo the necessary medical tests and will then be presented here at the Monumental Stadium,” Mosa told reporters before a league game.
From late bloomer to World Cup hero
The story is remarkable. Vozinha – full name Josimar Jose Evora Dias – didn’t sign his first professional contract until he was 26. Goalkeepers often mature late, but this is something else.
He then built a nomadic career: Cyprus, Slovakia, Moldova, Angola, and most recently Chaves in Portugal’s second division. Solid work, rarely in the spotlight, always far from the glamour.
That changed in a matter of days at the World Cup.
He produced a standout performance in Cape Verde’s 0-0 draw with eventual champions Spain, repelling wave after wave of attacks. Then came another epic display in a 3-2 extra-time defeat to Argentina in the knock-out rounds, a match that turned him into a cult figure for neutrals.
Those nights dragged his name out of obscurity and into prime time. The saves, the emotion, the defiance – they all travelled.
A veteran bet for a title giant
Colo Colo, 34-time champions of Chile and comfortably on top midway through the season, are not acting out of nostalgia. They see a goalkeeper who is still delivering.
“He’s in very good form; that’s why we’re signing him,” Mosa said, cutting straight to the point.
At 40, this is not a long-term project. It is a calculated move for a team with trophies in its sights, a dressing room that leans on experience, and a fanbase that demands characters as much as quality. Vozinha brings both.
From 50,000 followers to a global phenomenon
His rise hasn’t been confined to the pitch. Brazilian influencer Casimiro helped turn Vozinha into a social media sensation during the World Cup, amplifying his performances and personality to a massive audience.
The numbers are staggering. His Instagram following has rocketed from around 50,000 to nearly 30 million. From second-tier Portugal to global celebrity in a single tournament.
Now that following will track him to Santiago, to the Monumental, to a club where pressure is constant and every mistake echoes.
Colo Colo are already in control of the title race. With Vozinha on board, they are not just signing a goalkeeper; they are embracing a story that has captured the imagination far beyond Cape Verde and Chile.
