After a standout World Cup campaign with Cape Verde that captured the hearts of soccer fans across the globe, 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha has finally landed the high-profile transfer he always believed he deserved, officially joining Chile’s most decorated club, Colo-Colo, in a landmark move this week.
Vozinha, whose real name is Josimar Évora Dias, spent the vast majority of his 20-plus-year professional plying his trade for smaller outfits in lower-tier European leagues, most recently turning out for Chaves in Portugal’s second division. But through years of toiling outside the top flight, he never lost conviction that he was built to compete for a major club on one of soccer’s bigger stages.
His trajectory shifted dramatically after the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where a string of elite performances against global powerhouses including Spain, Uruguay, and Argentina earned him a spot in the tournament’s Best XI and turned the little-known shot-stopper into a worldwide viral sensation. In the weeks following his breakout run, his social media following skyrocketed from less than 50,000 followers to nearly 30 million, opening the door to offers from clubs across multiple continents.
Colo-Colo first announced the agreement to sign Vozinha in late July, but bureaucratic delays pushed back his official arrival in Santiago. Even with multiple suitors courting him after the World Cup, the 40-year-old says the Chilean top-flight side was always his unambiguous first choice. Speaking at his official unveiling to local media on Tuesday, he explained: “The decision was very clear. Despite playing in smaller leagues for clubs that weren’t exactly giants, deep down I always told myself I was a ‘big club’ player. So when Colo-Colo came calling, there was no doubt. From day one, I knew where I wanted to play. I received many offers, but Colo-Colo was always the priority.”
Finalizing the transfer required overcoming an unexpected regulatory obstacle, however: Chilean Football Federation rules mandate that all players display their legal surname on their match jerseys. For Vozinha — a nickname meaning “granny” in Portuguese that he has used his entire career — forcing him to abandon the moniker would have been a disappointing change. The federation ultimately granted a special exception to let him keep the famous nickname on his kit, a decision Vozinha called meaningful beyond just soccer. “It is the name I have used my entire life. In Cape Verde, it holds great significance and a rich history, and now it does globally as well,” he said. “If my grandmother were alive today, I think she would be proud. I hope to keep using it for the rest of my career as a tribute.”
Vozinha touched down at Santiago’s international airport on Sunday, greeted by a raucous crowd of hundreds of Colo-Colo fans waving flags, holding homemade welcome signs, and beating drums in celebration of their new signing. He completed his mandatory medical examination on Monday, signed his contract shortly after, and joined his new teammates for his first training session with the club on Tuesday. If all goes according to plan, he could make his competitive debut as early as this coming Sunday, when first-place Colo-Colo takes on Unión La Calera in Chile’s top division.
Reflecting on his journey from lower-league stalwart to global star, Vozinha says his World Cup run remains the biggest moment of his career to date, but joining Colo-Colo marks the highlight of his club career. “The World Cup was the best thing that ever happened to me in football, but that is in the past now. Being here representing Colo-Colo — a massive club with a rich history — is the highlight of my club career,” he said. Looking ahead to his new chapter in South American soccer, the 40-year-old says he is ready to put in the work to help his new side chase silverware. “Playing in the World Cup comes with immense pressure. I played against the best national teams in the world, and now I just want to work hard and help this team achieve its goals.”