Following a remarkable debut World Cup performance at 40 years old, Cape Verde's veteran goalkeeper Vozinha has reportedly reached a verbal agreement to join Chilean club Colo Colo.
Vozinha's stellar play was instrumental in leading Cape Verde to the round of 32 in the nation's first-ever World Cup appearance. He was named to FIFA's team of the tournament, recording 18 saves across four matches. Notably, 15 of those saves were against the two teams that ultimately reached the final, and he helped Cape Verde remain undefeated in regulation time throughout the competition.
His performance included a seven-save clean sheet in a scoreless draw against eventual World Cup champions Spain, making him the oldest goalkeeper to record a shutout in his World Cup debut. In the round of 32, Vozinha made eight saves during a 3-2 extra-time loss to Argentina, earning praise from football legends.
Born Josimar Jose Evora Dias, Vozinha entered the World Cup as an unattached free agent after his contract with Portuguese second-division side Chaves expired. He adopted the name Vozinha, a childhood nickname, early in his career to distinguish himself from a teammate.
The goalkeeper's tournament success also led to a significant increase in his public profile, with his social media following reportedly growing from 50,000 to over 29 million. Prior to agreeing to terms with Colo Colo, he was also rumored to have attracted interest from MLS side Inter Miami.
At Colo Colo, Vozinha will play under Argentine manager Fernando Ortiz as the club prepares for the upcoming Copa Libertadores, South America's premier continental club competition.