Cabo Verde goalkeeper Vozinha has opened up about the toll of sudden global fame after becoming one of the breakout stars of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, saying that despite the platform it gave him, he would choose his quieter old life if he could go back.
From 50,000 Followers to 28 Million
The 40-year-old, whose real name is Josimar José Évora Dias, saw his Instagram following explode from around 50,000 to more than 28 million following his standout tournament performances — most notably a heroic clean sheet against Spain during the group stage that turned him into one of the World Cup’s most talked-about players.
That surge in visibility came with consequences he hadn’t fully anticipated. “I’ve lost my peace and tranquillity. I don’t have privacy anymore, or at least much less than before,” he said in a recent interview.
Losing Privacy in Everyday Life
Vozinha described how the recognition now follows him into ordinary moments. “Now when I go out or go to a restaurant, there is always someone asking for a photo or an autograph. Or even worse, someone filming me,” he said. “That’s what has changed most in my life, and I don’t think there’s anything I can do about it.”
The attention hasn’t stayed confined to him personally, either — he said fans have shown up at his mother’s house in Cabo Verde, extending the pressure of fame to people close to him who never sought the spotlight themselves.
Asked directly whether he’d choose his current life or the one he had before the tournament, Vozinha didn’t hesitate: “To be honest, if I had to choose between the life I have today and the life I had before, I would choose the life I had before.”
Turning Down Brand Deals
The explosion in his profile also brought a wave of commercial interest. Vozinha said numerous companies and brands approached him during the tournament, but he chose to pursue only a single promotional partnership while competing, with UFL Mobile. He’s also been selective about which industries he’s willing to work with going forward, saying: “For now, I don’t want to work with tobacco, alcohol or betting brands.”
Life After the World Cup
Despite the personal strain that’s come with his newfound fame, Vozinha has continued his playing career, moving to Chilean club Colo-Colo following the tournament. He remains grateful for the platform his performances created — both for himself and for Cabo Verde, a nation whose World Cup run captured global attention in a way few could have predicted.
His comments offer a candid look at a side of viral sports fame that rarely gets discussed in the moment: the personal cost that can come with the kind of visibility most athletes spend their careers chasing.
