Vozinha yearning for 'the life I had before' as World Cup hero struggles with newfound fame

Every edition of the FIFA World Cup sees players emerge with newfound fame thanks to individual moments of brilliance, and nobody epitomises this more so than Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha.

The 40-year-old has enjoyed a journeyman career playing in Angola, Moldova, Portugal, Cyprus, Slovakia, and of course, in the West African archipelago nation of Cape Verde.

A free agent entering what was Cape Verde’s first-ever World Cup this summer in North America, after his time with Portuguese second-division side Chaves came to a close, Vozinha faced an uncertain future. However, his World Cup debut proved not only a performance to remember for both him and his teammates, but also a life-changing event for the now 93-time international.

Cape Verde were tasked with opening their campaign against reigning UEFA European champions and eventual tournament winners, Spain, and to say they defied all expectations would be an understatement. A 0-0 draw, thanks in no small part to some excellent saves from Vozinha, helped Cape Verde become one of the darlings of the tournament.

Vozinha’s raw emotion once the final whistle blew quickly went viral, along with clips of his heroics in goal. Within the blink of an eye, his following on Instagram began to skyrocket, going from 56,000 pre-game to 28.3 million as of September 28.

Draws against Uruguay and Saudi Arabia sent Cape Verde into the Round of 32, where their remarkable run came to an equally memorable ending, losing 3-2 in extra time to reigning champions and eventual finalists Argentina – despite one of the goals of the tournament from Sidny Lopes Cabral in the 103rd minute.

The Blue Sharks were given a hero’s welcome upon their return home, paraded through the streets of the capital city Praia. But while life went back to normal for many players, the same could not be said for Vozinha, whose existence has forever been altered by fame.

In a recent interview with The Observer, the now Colo-Colo goalkeeper said, “I’ve lost my peace and tranquillity. I no longer have any privacy, or at least much less than I used to.

To listen to the latest episode of ‘All Out Soccer’ – Vozinha yearning for 'the life I

“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’s newfound fame has not only come with the disappearance of any sense of anonymity on a daily basis, but it has also presented certain commercial opportunities – something he remains wary of. “I know that during the World Cup there were lots of companies and brands that wanted to work with me,” he said, “but while we were competing I only did one promotional collaboration, with UFL Mobile. I don’t know what offers might come in the future, but for now I don’t want to work with any tobacco, alcohol or betting brands.”

Unfortunately, having now sampled both sides of fame, Vozinha has quickly come to realize that it simply isn’t for him. “A lot of people want to be famous and have a public profile, but they only see the positive side of that reality,” he said. “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.”

But while his prominence has come at a personal cost, he also acknowledges that there have been benefits from a broader perspective, specifically when it comes to his beloved home nation.

Vozinha explained, “It’s nice to feel like a kind of ambassador, but I want to make it clear that what we achieved was a collective effort. We made history and the best news would be if we could harness that momentum to develop our country and improve the living conditions of our people.”

• Atlanta’s new NWSL franchise reveals team name and colors as boss sets ambitious target

• England defensive duo miss training as Thomas Tuchel’s side prepares for Czechia

Now plying his trade in the Chilean top-tier, Vozinha has made three appearances across all competitions, conceding just one goal, with his eyes set on making his Copa Libertadores debut in the near future.

But before then, there remains a chance Vozinha could be named the Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year, having been named among the 10 nominees for the award, with the winner set to be announced at the Ballon d’Or ceremony in October.