Cape Verde goalkeeper Josimar Dias, popularly known as Vozinha, has admitted that his sudden rise to global fame at the 2026 World Cup has cost him the privacy and peaceful lifestyle he once enjoyed.
The 40-year-old was relatively unknown outside Portugal’s second division just six months ago, when he was playing for Chaves.
His fortunes changed at the World Cup, where he was named Player of the Match after making seven saves in Cape Verde’s 0-0 draw with Spain, a performance that turned him into a global star.
Before the match against Spain, Vozinha had around 56,000 followers on Instagram. By the final whistle, that number had climbed beyond one million after Brazilian broadcaster CazéTV encouraged its viewers to follow him.
His popularity continued to grow throughout the tournament. By the time Cape Verde had completed an unbeaten group-stage campaign and pushed Lionel Messi’s Argentina into extra time before eventually losing 3-2, Vozinha’s Instagram following had risen above 20 million, making him the most followed goalkeeper in the world on the platform.
Speaking exclusively to The Observer, Vozinha admitted that the attention that has come with his newfound fame has become difficult to deal with.
“I’ve lost my peace and tranquillity. 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.”
Vozinha also revealed that his family has felt the impact of his newfound popularity, with supporters reportedly visiting his mother’s home in Cape Verde on a daily basis to ask for photographs.
The goalkeeper, who now plays for Chilean giants Colo-Colo after leaving Chaves as a free agent, also said he has turned down numerous commercial opportunities and has refused to work with brands associated with tobacco, alcohol or sports betting.
