Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha has opened up about the downside of his sudden global fame following his remarkable performances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 40-year-old shot-stopper became one of the tournament’s breakout stars after helping Cape Verde secure a historic 0-0 draw against Spain in their opening match.
Vozinha produced seven saves against the European champions, earning widespread praise and attracting millions of new followers on social media. His Instagram following surged dramatically after the match, turning the previously little-known goalkeeper into an international football sensation.
However, the attention has come at a personal cost, with Vozinha admitting that he misses the quieter life he enjoyed before his World Cup breakthrough.
‘I’ve lost my peace and tranquillity,’ Vozinha told The Observer.
‘I no longer have any privacy, or at least much less than I used to. 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. That’s what has changed most in my life, and I don’t think there’s anything I can do about it.
‘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. A lot of people want to be famous and have a public profile, but they only see the positive side of that reality.
Cape Verde became fan favourites worldwide on their extraordinary run to the last 32, where they took Argentina to extra time and lost.
The Atlantic islanders were the smallest nation to ever compete at a World Cup.
The 40-year-old has since signed for Colo-Colo, Chile’s most successful club.
