Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha was crowned Chilean champion with Colo Colo on Sunday 8 November, after a 2-1 win over Ñublense. At 40, the hero of the 2026 World Cup is nevertheless enduring a complicated season in Chile.
Cape Verde international goalkeeper Vozinha started in Colo Colo’s 2-1 win over Ñublense on Sunday 8 November. The victory sealed the Chilean club’s 35th national title and earned them qualification for the 2027 Libertadores, according to AFP and Exame. In stoppage time, the 40-year-old keeper pulled off a decisive save to preserve the win, reports HoyxHoy.
It is the first league title of his career, according to HoyxHoy and PPsport. A late coronation for the man who carried Cape Verde onto the world stage a few months earlier, but who is at the same time struggling to establish himself between his club’s posts.
Global fame
Vozinha made a name for himself at the 2026 World Cup. He had helped Cape Verde hold Spain to a 0-0 draw, draw with Uruguay (2-2), then push Argentina to extra time in the round of 32 before losing 3-2, according to AFP. He finished 6th in the Lev Yashin award at the Ballon d’Or ceremony in London, again according to AFP.
His fame exploded: his Instagram follower count went from 50,000 to 27.5 million after the tournament, reports AFP. FIFA president Gianni Infantino congratulated him on his title and hailed “a true inspiration”. “Vozinha’s extraordinary rise to global stardom with Cape Verde at the historic 48-team World Cup demonstrates precisely why it was so important to expand the tournament: to give world-class talents the ultimate stage on which to shine,” the official added, quoted by HoyxHoy.
His Chilean season, however, has not followed the same trajectory. Having joined the club in July or August 2026, Vozinha had played only 5 of Colo Colo’s 14 matches before Sunday, with coach Fernando Ortiz preferring 19-year-old Gabriel Maureira, according to AFP. He is also among the nominees for African goalkeeper of the year at the 2026 CAF Awards, reports Archysport.
A contract running until 31 December
His contract runs until 31 December, with a clause for an automatic one-year extension if he plays at least 50% of the minutes stipulated in the contract, according to Exame.
Asked about his future, he sidestepped the question: “Today is a day of celebration, we’ll talk about the future later,” he told TNT Sports Chile, according to Exame. He had already told AFP: “I came here with the intention of playing in the Copa Libertadores, but I’m focusing on this week, which could be very important for Colo Colo. The future will be decided later, I’m not thinking about it for now.”
He also told AFP about his new life: “I preferred the old one.” The decision on his future is still to be made.
What comes next: Copa Chile and a decision
Colo Colo still have to finish their Chilean season, between the league and the Copa Chile. The club secured qualification for the 2027 Libertadores with this 35th national title, a competition Vozinha said he wanted to play in when he came to Chile.
It remains to be seen what role Fernando Ortiz will have in store for him. The decision on his future must come before his contract expires on 31 December 2026.