Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha says he preferred his life before the 2026 World Cup, despite becoming one of the tournament’s biggest surprise stars.
The 40-year-old goalkeeper played a key role in Cape Verde’s historic run to the knockout stage at their first-ever World Cup appearance. His performances, including clean sheets against eventual champions Spain and Saudi Arabia, helped the African nation reach the round of 32.
However, the attention that followed has made everyday life difficult for the veteran goalkeeper.
Fame Has Changed Vozinha’s Life
Vozinha said he has lost much of the privacy and peace he enjoyed before the tournament.
“I’ve lost my peace and tranquillity. I no longer have any privacy,” he told Britain’s Observer newspaper, according to Reuters.
The goalkeeper said that even ordinary activities such as going to a restaurant have become difficult because people regularly approach him for photographs and autographs.
He also complained about people filming him without his permission, saying he feels there is little he can do to prevent the constant attention.
The impact has extended beyond Vozinha himself. According to the goalkeeper, fans have been visiting his mother’s house in Cape Verde on a daily basis.
“I’m not there, so I can’t help them,” he said.
From World Cup Surprise to Global Star
Vozinha entered the tournament relatively unknown outside Cape Verde but quickly attracted worldwide attention with his performances.
Cape Verde, an island nation off the west coast of Africa with a population of about 500,000, surprised many by progressing from the group stage in their World Cup debut.
The team eventually faced Argentina in the round of 32, where the defending champions survived a major scare before winning 3-2.
Vozinha’s performances during the tournament also earned him a nomination for the Yashin Trophy, an award given to the world’s top goalkeeper.
His popularity on social media has grown dramatically. Reuters reported that his Instagram following increased from around 56,000 before the tournament to about 28 million.
A Different Life After the World Cup
The sudden rise in fame has also coincided with a major change in Vozinha’s football career.
After leaving Portuguese second-tier club Chaves, he joined Chilean club Colo-Colo in July. His move followed a World Cup campaign that transformed him from an experienced goalkeeper into a widely recognised football figure.
Despite the opportunities that can come with international fame, Vozinha said the reality has not matched what many people imagine.
“A lot of people want to be famous,” he said, while noting that people often see only the positive side of fame.
For the Cape Verde goalkeeper, the increased recognition has come with a significant loss of privacy and tranquillity.
Vozinha was one of the defining figures of Cape Verde’s historic World Cup campaign, but his comments show that the experience of sudden global fame can bring challenges away from the football pitch as well.