Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha has opened up about the downside of his remarkable rise to global fame, admitting he would choose his old life if given the chance.
The 40-year-old became one of the surprise stars of the 2026 World Cup after producing a stunning performance in Cape Verde’s first-ever appearance at the tournament.
Vozinha made seven saves and kept a clean sheet as Cape Verde held eventual champions Spain to a goalless draw. It was a performance that instantly pushed him into the global spotlight.
The impact was immediate.
Before the match, Vozinha had around 56,000 followers on Instagram. Within days, that figure had exploded to approximately 14 million.
His profile has continued to grow since then. After being nominated for the 2026 Ballon d’Or men’s Goalkeeper of the Year award, the Cape Verde international now has more than 28 million followers.
But the attention has come at a cost.
“I’ve lost my peace and tranquillity,” the 40-year-old told The Observer. “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.”
For a player who had spent most of his career away from the intense spotlight surrounding football’s biggest stars, the sudden transformation has been difficult to absorb.
Vozinha acknowledged that fame can look attractive from the outside, but said his experience has shown him another side of life in the public eye.
“A lot of people want to be famous and have a public profile, but they only see the positive side of that reality.
“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.”
The goalkeeper’s newfound celebrity has also extended beyond his personal life.
He revealed that supporters now regularly visit his mother’s home in Cape Verde, creating another challenge for his family as they adjust to his unexpected popularity.
“I’m not there so I can’t help them [his parents]. They have to learn with the situation and set boundaries.”
Vozinha also recalled the bizarre moment he first discovered just how dramatically his social media numbers had changed.
Shortly after the historic draw with Spain, a member of Cape Verde’s catering staff approached him with what sounded like an unbelievable claim.
“A member of the team’s catering staff came up to me and told me I had a billion followers,” he said.
“I had no idea what he was talking about; I thought he was joking, but he insisted. “Later, I went to do some interviews in the mixed zone, and a CazéTV [a Brazilian broadcaster] journalist asked me if I knew what was happening. She showed me her phone and that was when I saw that I had more than a million followers.”
From 56,000 followers to millions in a matter of days, Vozinha’s story is one of the most dramatic fame explosions to emerge from the 2026 World Cup.
Yet behind the numbers, interviews and attention is a goalkeeper who says he misses something that money and worldwide recognition cannot easily replace: privacy.
Toosin is a dedicated sports writer with a strong background in crafting engaging and insightful content. With experience at Goal, he has developed a sharp editorial sense and a refined storytelling approach that brings depth and perspective to sports journalism. His passion for the game goes beyond the headlines, as he captures both the excitement of the sport and the compelling human narratives behind each event. Toosin’s work resonates with a broad and diverse audience, making global sports stories accessible, relatable, and impactful.
