Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha, who starred at the 2026 World Cup, was officially presented on Tuesday as a new signing for Chilean club Colo-Colo after overcoming travel delays and securing a special jersey exception, arriving in Santiago to a raucous fan welcome.
Josimar José Évora Dias, universally known as Vozinha, touched down at Santiago Airport on Sunday to hundreds of flag-waving supporters armed with drums and signs. The 40-year-old veteran goalkeeper finalized his medical evaluations and signed a six-month contract with an option for an additional year following a breakout tournament that turned him into an international phenomenon.
Global Stardom and the World Cup Run With Cape Verde
Before his high-profile move to South America, Vozinha spent the previous season with GD Chaves in Portugal’s second tier while balancing his football career with beach volleyball lessons. His fortunes shifted dramatically during the 2026 World Cup in North America, where he anchored the Cape Verde national team through a historic group-stage run.
The goalkeeper famously held off tournament winners Spain to a scoreless draw in his opening match before delivering stellar performances against Uruguay and Lionel Messi’s Argentina in the round of 32. Although Argentina ultimately advanced with a 3-2 victory in extra time, the campaign catapulted the Blue Sharks onto the world stage and swelled Vozinha’s Instagram following from under 50,000 to nearly 30 million in a matter of weeks.
The World Cup is the greatest competition in football (…) I knew it could bring many great things for me. Vozinha, Goalkeeper
Choosing Colo-Colo Amid High-Profile Pursuit
After his contract with Chaves expired, Vozinha found himself a free agent drawing interest from clubs across the globe, including Inter Miami as well as Brazilian sides Avaí and Atlético-GO alongside Moroccan side Berkane. Despite the competing offers, the veteran chose Chile’s most successful club, current Chilean league leaders Colo-Colo.
We are very happy that Colo Colo is on all the sports pages of the world. Aníbal Mosa, Colo-Colo President
Overcoming Regulatory Hurdles for the No. 29 Jersey
Finalizing the transfer required navigating a unique administrative roadblock. Chilean Football Federation regulations mandate that players wear their legal surnames on their jerseys, which initially threatened to strip away the moniker that made the goalkeeper famous worldwide.
However, the league and rival club presidents approved a special exception, allowing him to wear his signature number 29 jersey bearing the nickname Vozinha,
which translates to granny
in Portuguese as a tribute to his grandparents.
Perspective on Pressure and the Upcoming Debut
Faced with questions regarding the expectations surrounding his arrival in Santiago, the veteran goalkeeper dismissed the notion of sporting pressure altogether.
Pressure is when you are sick or when you don’t have anything to eat. Vozinha, Goalkeeper
With his official presentation complete, Colo-Colo has scheduled a mass fan gathering at the Estadio Monumental where more than 40,000 supporters are expected to greet their new signing. Vozinha could make his debut as early as Sunday when Colo-Colo faces Unión La Calera in league play.
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