Cape Verde World Cup star Vozinha signs with Chile’s Colo-Colo

SANTIAGO: Vozinha, the 40-year-old Cape Verde goalkeeper who emerged as a breakout star of the 2026 World Cup, has signed with Chilean club Colo-Colo, according to reports.

The contract runs for 18 months. Colo-Colo posted a photo of Vozinha’s signature curly hair on social media with the message: “Welcome, Vozinha.”

Vozinha, who made his World Cup debut in the tournament, gained global recognition for standout performances against Spain and Argentina. He saved all seven shots on target in a match against Spain and was named player of the match. He was central to Cape Verde’s surprising run to the round of 32.

Before the tournament, Vozinha had about 50,000 followers on Instagram. That number has since surged to 29.58 million.

At the time of the World Cup, he played for GD Chaves in Portugal’s second division and was valued at 50,000 euros ($54,000), the second-lowest valuation among all tournament participants. His play drew interest from top clubs in Europe and the Americas.

“He will soon undergo a medical and become our player,” Colo-Colo president Aníbal Mosa said. “His capabilities will be a great asset to our team, not just in terms of marketing.”