World Cup star Vozinha joins Chilean club Colo-Colo

Vozinha, the veteran goalkeeper who became a social media sensation during the recent World Cup, has officially joined the prominent Chilean football club Colo-Colo. The 40-year-old player from Cape Verde has signed a six-month contract, with an option for an additional year, as announced by the club on Instagram.

Colo-Colo, recognized as the most successful club in Chilean football history, welcomes the experienced keeper who played a pivotal role in Cape Verde's advancement from the group stage at the World Cup. The island nation's journey concluded with a narrow defeat against Argentina in the Round of 16.

Vozinha's standout performances, especially his remarkable display in the goalless draw against eventual champions Spain, captured global attention. Before the tournament, he had approximately 50,000 Instagram followers, but this number skyrocketed to nearly 30 million during the competition. His popularity was further cemented when he was selected for the tournament's team of the year, alongside stars like Lionel Messi, based on a fan vote organized by FIFA.

Colo-Colo has received permission for Vozinha, whose real name is Josimar Jose Evora Dias, to use his football nickname on his jersey, mirroring his World Cup practice. "Vozinha," meaning "little grandmother" in Portuguese, originated from his childhood habit of running home to his grandparents after losses on the field.

At Colo-Colo, Vozinha will be a teammate to notable players like Arturo Vidal, who has previously played for major European clubs. The goalkeeper brings a wealth of international club experience, having played in Cape Verde, Angola, Moldova, Portugal, Cyprus, and Slovakia.