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Vozinha to Colo Colo
Cabo Verde goalkeeper Vozinha, whose real name is Josimar José Évora Dias, signed with Chilean club Colo Colo after his World Cup run, with Colo Colo president Aníbal Mosa confirming he would arrive in Chile and be presented at the Estadio Monumental.
“The 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha is about to sign a contract with the Chilean club Colo Colo”
Reuters reported that the contract was for 18 months and that Vozinha had no contract with any team during the World Cup, after which he was set to travel to Chile, undergo medical examinations, and then be presented at the Estadio Monumental in Santiago.
The Taipei Times said Vozinha led Cabo Verde to a strong tournament run until losing to Lionel Messi’s Argentina 3-2 in extra time in the round of 32, and it noted his saves against Spain and Argentina as part of what made him a breakout star.
The New York Times added that Vozinha became the oldest player to make an appearance in a nation’s debut World Cup game at the age of 40 years and 12 days old, and it said he was the man of the match in Cape Verde’s surprise 0-0 opening draw against European champions Spain.
Club president and fan buzz
Colo Colo’s president Aníbal Mosa told media ahead of the club’s league match against Deportes Limache that “We have an agreement; the final details are being ironed out, but we already have confirmation from his entourage and his representative.”
The club also posted “Welcome. We’re waiting for you,” a message that quickly sparked excitement among Colo Colo supporters and across Chile after the national team failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup.
TNT Sports said Mosa confirmed that only final administrative details remained before the transfer was completed, and it quoted him: ”Vozinha is going to be a Colo-Colo player,” before adding that the goalkeeper would travel to Santiago for medical examinations.
Multiple outlets tied the move to Vozinha’s World Cup popularity, with the Taipei Times saying his social media accounts increased from just under 50,000 to almost 29 million, and USA Today reporting the goalkeeper grew his social media following from 50,000 to over 29 million after the tournament.
What comes next
After the agreement, the next step described by outlets is medical examinations and an official presentation at the Estadio Monumental, with the Taipei Times saying Mosa referred to the stadium in Santiago and that Vozinha would travel to Chile in the next few days.
“El Mundial de 2026 cambió por completo la carrera de Josimar José Évora Dias, mejor conocido como Vozinha”
SABC Sport said the 40-year-old, who was a free agent after leaving Portuguese second-tier club Chaves before the tournament, would travel to Chile to complete a medical before the transfer is officially confirmed, and it added that if he passes his medical, he will be unveiled at the Estadio Monumental.
The New York Times said Vozinha played in each of Cape Verde’s remaining three games at the tournament, including keeping another clean sheet against Saudi Arabia as the archipelagic country made it through to the last 32-stage, and it described his 3-2 loss after extra-time to defending champions Argentina.
Beyond the pitch, the New York Times reported that after his nation’s elimination, Vozinha was honoured by having new species of marine mollusk named after him: Aldisa vozinhai (in English, Vozinha’s sea slug), while the Taipei Times noted that Topps was creating a trading card tied to a World Cup photo of Lionel Messi holding Spain’s Lamine Yamal in 2007.
