Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha says the fame he gained from his outstanding performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup has come at the cost of his privacy and the ‘peace and tranquillity’ he enjoyed before the tournament.
The 40-year-old shot to global prominence in June after a remarkable performance to help Cape Verde hold eventual champions Spain to a goalless draw in their opening World Cup match.
Vozinha made seven saves against Spain as Cape Verde secured a historic result on their World Cup debut, sending his social media following soaring from about 50,000 to more than one million.
His profile increased further after Cape Verde pushed Argentina into extra time before eventually losing in the round of 32.
However, Vozinha said the attention has significantly changed his everyday life and that he preferred the quieter existence he had before the tournament.
‘I’ve lost my peace and tranquillity,’ Vozinha said.
‘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.’
His family has also experienced the impact of his newfound fame. Vozinha’s mother became part of his World Cup story after he revealed that she could not afford a visa to watch his World Cup debut.
US House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries subsequently announced that the visa fee had been waived.
Vozinha said his mother now receives daily visits from fans who want to meet him and take photographs.
‘A lot of people want to be famous and have a public profile, but they only see the positive side of that reality,’ he said.
‘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.’
His performances earned him a nomination for the men’s goalkeeper of the year award at the Ballon d’Or.
‘It’s nice to feel like a kind of ambassador, but I want to make it clear that what we achieved was a collective effort,’ Vozinha said.
‘We made history, and the best news would be if we could harness that momentum to develop our country and improve the living conditions of our people.’