SANTIAGO, Chile — A rising star from the World Cup has found a new team in Chile: Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha has officially signed with Colo Colo, the premier soccer club in South America.
At 40 years old, Vozinha made headlines during the World Cup with an impressive display, delivering stunning saves against formidable opponents, including the eventual champions, Spain, and the defending champions, Argentina.
“Welcome! We’re excited for your arrival,” the club announced on social media, generating a wave of enthusiasm not just among Colo Colo fans but across Chile, particularly after the national team’s failure to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup.
Earlier, Aníbal Mosa, president of Blanco y Negro, which manages the Chilean club, had confirmed that the goalkeeper, who was not contracted to any team during the World Cup, would be arriving in Chile soon.
“Vozinha will become a Colo Colo player. He’ll be traveling to Chile in the coming days to undergo the necessary medical checks before being officially presented at Estadio Monumental,” Mosa shared with the press, referring to the team’s home ground in Santiago.
Reports indicate that the contract spans 18 months.
Josimar Dias, widely recognized as Vozinha, led Cape Verde, a small island nation off the west coast of Africa, to a commendable performance in the tournament, ultimately bowing out to Lionel Messi‘s Argentina with a close 3-2 score in extra time of the round of 32.
His remarkable World Cup journey has drastically boosted his social media following, surging from just under 50,000 to nearly 29 million.