Josimar José Évora Dias, nicknamed Vozinha, the star goalkeeper of Cabo Verde who rose to fame after the World Cup, expressed his anguish over the fame and popularity that followed.
In an interview given to The Observer, the 40-year-old expressed that he lost his privacy and peace after he became widely recognised and famous.
“I’ve lost my peace and tranquillity, I no longer have any privacy, or at least much less than I used to.
Now I go out, I go to a restaurant, and there’s always someone who wants to take a photo with me or asks me for an autograph. Or, worse, someone is filming me.
That’s what has changed most in my life, and I don’t think there’s anything I can do about it.”
He stated that maybe it is because of the sudden shift in his career, because six months ago his life was confined to Chaves, playing in Liga Portugal 2. Before the World Cup, his following on Instagram was 50K, which rose to 28.4 M, making him the most-followed goalkeeper in the world.
Vozinha highlighted that his public image has affected not only him but his family as well. His mother, who is someone who cannot say no to anybody, now finds fans showing up at their home in Cape Verde asking for photographs or for a chat.
His father usually does not interact much, as he is a very reserved person. The player said that he cannot do anything for them regarding this, as he is not with them, so they should learn by themselves to adapt and manage it.
“ A lot of people want to be famous and have a public profile, but they only see the positive side of that reality ”
“To be honest, if I were offered the life I have today or the life I had before, I’d choose the one I had before.
Vozinha, who became a media personality overnight, also expressed his limits when it comes to collaborating with brands.
He said that many companies approached him during the World Cup, but he did only one collaboration with UFL Mobile, and for now he does not want to work with any tobacco, alcohol or betting brands.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup was the turning point in Vozinha’s career. His seven spectacular saves against Spain who became the champions later on in the opening group match of Cape Verde that resulted in a tie of 0-0 attracted football fans all over the world.
Cape/Cabo Verde, a small group of islands off the West African coast, became the hot topic after the match. Everyone, even people who were not football fans, googled Cape Verde during that period.
The country took on Uruguay after Spain, which resulted in a 2-2 draw, then Saudi Arabia, which was also a 0-0 tie and finally Argentina, where they lost 3-2 in extra time but were praised by the whole world for their resilience and stellar performance. Hence, it became the smallest-ever nation to reach the knockout stages of a FIFA World Cup.
Vozinha’s performance in the World Cup caught everyone’s eye, and he was signed to the Chilean giants Colo Colo after the World Cup.
On 25 July 2026, it was announced by Colo-Colo that Vozinha was set to join the team on an 18-month contract. He plays as a goalkeeper in the Liga de Primera, the highest level of the Chilean football league system and in Copa Chile.
The Cape Verdean faced lots of challenges before joining Colo Colo. These included visa issues and a hijacking attempt on the transfer by Moroccan club RS Berkane. He joined the club officially on a six-month contract with an option to extend for one year on 3 August,2026.
Vozinha made his debut for the club in a Copa Chile match against Unión Española on 26th August and won the game 3-0.
Later, he appeared in two matches: one against Huachipato, which ended in a 0-0 draw and against Deportes Concepción, where he conceded his first and only goal, which ended in a 1-1 tie.
Vozinha registered a clean sheet in his first two matches for Colo Colo. But there are still questions raised about his performance at present.
He played only in 3 matches for the club and has not been able to establish a solid performance compared to his World Cup form. Coach Fernando Ortiz made it clear that Vozinha will not be handed the starting job, highlighting that he will have to earn the starting spot on merit.
Reports claim that if Vozinha does not feature in at least 50% of the matches available to him between now and the end of the year, Colo-Colo could terminate his contract without paying compensation. This is going to be a big blow to the player. From being a World Cup sensation to having to fight for his place, Vozinha has to go so far again to hold on to his image.
At present, his club leads the Chilean Primera División by 54 points and leads Group E in Copa Chile.
Fans’ reaction to the goalkeeper’s statement was mixed. Some fans expressed support for the Cape Verdean, stating that fame may be many people’s thing, but it might not work for everyone, and they hope that he is handling the situation and pressure well.
Whereas his statement gathered many negative reactions, too. Some users say it is contradictory to agree with what Vozinha said when there are young footballers who are waiting for years to get recognised.
Also pointed out that Vozinha became a global star through the media overnight; hence, he cannot understand what underdog players go through to reach fame like that, and he should be grateful.
“ Vozinha went from 56,000 Instagram followers to more than 28 million, and what he wants back is a quiet dinner.Most stars get famous in stages. He got it in one night at 40, and that’s why he’d trade it back ” said one user on X.
Some other users also praised his decision not to promote alcohol and betting brands, calling it a smart and courageous move.
Vozinha initially decided to retire after the World Cup, but chose to carry on as he “still feels good”. To everybody’s surprise, the 40-year-old was nominated among the ten nominees for the Ballon d’Or award for the world’s best goalkeeper. Currently, he is with the Cape Verde national team, practicing for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign.
