'Welcome Vozinha, we've been waiting for You'

Cape Verde veteran goalkeeper Vozinha has joined Chilean giants Colo-Colo on an 18-month deal as a free agent after leaving Portuguese second-division club GD Chaves, marking a new chapter in his career following his standout performances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Colo-Colo officially unveiled the 40-year-old goalkeeper through a special video on social media, welcoming him with the message: "Welcome, Vozinha. We've been waiting for you."

Expressing his excitement over the move, Vozinha said the World Cup was one of the greatest experiences of his career and that he is eager to embrace a fresh challenge in Chile.

"The World Cup was one of the best memories of my life. Now it's time to prove myself in a new challenge. Colo-Colo is a historic club, and I can't wait to play for them," he said.

Vozinha became one of the breakout stars of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after leading tournament debutants Cape Verde to a memorable goalless draw against European champions Spain in their opening Group Stage match.

During that game, he set the record as the oldest goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in a World Cup match and produced seven remarkable saves, instantly earning worldwide recognition.

His reputation continued to grow throughout the tournament, with his popularity soaring on social media. His Instagram following reportedly jumped from around 50,000 before the World Cup to nearly 29.5 million within a matter of weeks.

Although Cape Verde were eliminated in the Round of 16 after a 3-2 defeat to defending champions Argentina, Vozinha remained one of the match's standout performers. He denied Lionel Messi on four clear scoring opportunities, further cementing his status as one of the tournament's best goalkeepers.

In recognition of his consistently outstanding displays, Vozinha was also named in FIFA's official Best XI of the 2026 World Cup.

-HIS