Cape Verde's 40-year-old World Cup hero Vozinha agrees move to Chile's Colo-Colo after breakout tournament

World Cup breakthrough

Cape Verde made their World Cup debut at the 2026 tournament and exited in the last 32, but their goalkeeper became one of the competition's most visible figures. Vozinha, full name Josimar Jose Evora Dias, was 40 years and 12 days old when he took the field against Spain, becoming the oldest player to appear in a nation's debut World Cup match and the oldest goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in one. Cape Verde held the eventual champions to a 0-0 draw, with Vozinha making seven saves and earning man of the match. He then kept another clean sheet against Saudi Arabia with three crucial saves, securing Cape Verde's passage to the knockout stage. In the last 32, Cape Verde pushed Argentina to extra time before losing 3-2, with Vozinha making seven saves, four of them from Lionel Messi according to one report. He was then selected for FIFA's fan-voted World Cup dream team after playing just four matches.

From 50,000 to 30 million

Before the tournament, Vozinha had roughly 50,000 Instagram followers. By Saturday morning, 25 July 2026, that number had reached 29.5 million, making him the most-followed football goalkeeper on the platform, ahead of Iker Casillas at 20.4 million and Manuel Neuer at 15 million. Brazilian influencer Casimiro helped amplify his profile, and the surge turned a 40-year-old free agent into a global personality within weeks. Vozinha had spent his entire club career outside the spotlight, with stops in Cyprus, Slovakia, Moldova and Angola, signing his first professional contract only at age 26. On returning to Cape Verde, the team was greeted by tens of thousands of fans in Praia.

It is a very special moment for us, to be here with our fans. We wanted something bigger, but we didn't make it to the next round. Now we just enjoy the moment and celebrate with our people.

The Colo-Colo deal

On Friday 24 July, Colo Colo president Anibal Mosa confirmed the club had reached an agreement with Vozinha, ending speculation about where the tournament's breakout goalkeeper would land. Vozinha had been a free agent since leaving Portuguese second-division side GD Chaves, where he made 19 league appearances in the 2025-26 season. Mosa said the deal was nearly complete, with only final details to be resolved.

Vozinha will be a Colo Colo player. In the coming days he will travel to Chile, undergo the usual medical examinations and then be presented here at the Estadio Monumental.

Colo Colo, founded in 1925, are Chile's most decorated club with 34 Primera Division titles, 14 Copa Chile trophies and a Copa Libertadores. They lead the current Chilean league by 13 points over second-placed Universidad Catolica. The club teased the signing on social media with an image of Vozinha's trademark curly hair before the formal announcement. Mosa acknowledged the move carried marketing appeal alongside the obvious sporting merit.

What comes next

Vozinha will travel to Santiago in the coming days for his medical examination. Once cleared, the club will present him at the Estadio Monumental. The contract is reported to run for 18 months, carrying him past his 42nd birthday. Colo Colo, already 13 points clear at the top of the Chilean league, are adding a goalkeeper whose World Cup performances turned a mid-career free agent into one of the tournament's most bankable names. A marine biologist also named a newly discovered sea slug after him: Aldisa vozinhai, meaning Vozinha's sea slug.