At 40: Vozinha signs with a new team after a stellar World Cup
The Cape Verde national team goalkeeper, who was a hero of their historic run and selected for the fans' all-star team, has found a new home — and will not be joining Lionel Messi at Inter Miami.
One of the heroes of the 2026 World Cup has found a new club. Vozinha, the goalkeeper for the Cape Verde national team, has signed an 18-month contract at the age of 40, following his standout performance as one of the most memorable figures of the tournament.
The veteran goalkeeper's new destination is the Chilean powerhouse Colo-Colo. Vozinha had been a free agent since his contract with the Portuguese club Chaves expired in June. Before signing, he was linked to several teams in Brazil and Inter Miami, but ultimately chose to join the Chilean giants.
Colo-Colo welcomed him on social media, writing: "Welcome, we are waiting for you at the Monumental stadium." The club's president, Aníbal Mosa, stated: "Vozinha will be a Colo-Colo player. He will arrive in Chile in the coming days, undergo medical examinations, and be presented here at the Monumental stadium."
Vozinha was instrumental in Cape Verde's historic run, as they reached the round of 32 in their World Cup debut. The team's journey ended with a 3:2 loss to Argentina after extra time, having held their own for 90 minutes against both the Albiceleste and Spain, the two teams that reached the final.
Vozinha's performance made him one of the most prominent players in the tournament. He was selected by fans for the World Cup all-star team, receiving 39.6 percent of the votes for the goalkeeper position.
After Cape Verde's elimination, Vozinha made it clear that he does not yet plan to retire:
"I want to play for at least another year or two, or as long as my body holds up. You never know what tomorrow will bring. I hope to find a team that really wants me as a player, not as a marketing man," he told CBS.
Vozinha, whose full name is Josimar José Évora Dias, has recorded 90 appearances for the Cape Verde national team and is considered one of its greatest players. During his career, the goalkeeper has played for Portuguese clubs Chaves and Gil Vicente, as well as the Cypriot club AEL Limassol, where he spent five seasons. He now joins the most decorated club in Chile, which has won 34 league titles and the Copa Libertadores in 1991.
