Cape Verde Goalkeeper Vozinha Regrets Fame After World Cup Stardom
The 40-year-old goalkeeper, who became a global sensation after Cape Verde's historic World Cup draw with Spain, says he has lost his peace and privacy.
Cape Verde's World Cup hero Vozinha is reflecting on the dramatic shift in his life following his team's historic qualification and performance in the international tournament. The 40-year-old goalkeeper, who gained widespread recognition after Cape Verde's 0-0 draw against Spain in their first-ever World Cup appearance, stated that the ensuing fame has come at the cost of his personal peace and privacy.
"I’ve lost my peace and tranquility. I no longer have any privacy, or at least much less than I used to," Vozinha told The Observer. "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."
Vozinha's life changed significantly after his performance in the match against Spain, where he made seven saves. This success propelled him from a following of 50,000 Instagram users to approximately 28.4 million. His newfound prominence has also extended to his family, with fans frequently appearing outside his mother's home in Cape Verde.
"I’m not there so I can’t help [my parents]. They have to learn with the situation and set boundaries," he said, referring to his family's need to manage the attention.
Despite the positive attention, including being shortlisted for men's goalkeeper of the year at the Ballon d’Or, Vozinha expressed a desire to return to his previous life.
"A lot of people want to be famous and have a public profile, but they only see the positive side of that reality," Vozinha observed. "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."