Just weeks after captivating football fans during Cape Verde's historic FIFA World Cup final run, goalkeeper Vozinha was welcomed to Chile like a superstar.
Hundreds of Colo-Colo supporters gathered at Santiago's Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport, chanting the veteran goalkeeper's nickname as he emerged from the arrivals terminal to complete his long-awaited move to Chile's most successful club.
"Vozinha! Vozinha!" fans shouted while waving flags and recording the moment on their phones as the 40-year-old smiled, greeted supporters and posed for photos before heading to complete his medical examinations. The reception came after several delays had postponed his arrival, fueling days of speculation in Chilean media about whether the transfer would ultimately go through.The crowd gave the Cape Verde international a reception usually reserved for club legends or marquee signings.
Así se recibe en Chile a un portero de Cabo Verde de 40 años que hizo historia en un Mundial.
— TDTV (@tdtvhn) August 3, 2026
Vozinha 🇨🇻💯 pic.twitter.com/TUO5jkj4jP
#NotaPositiva | 💙🧤 De estar sin equipo a ser recibido como un héroe.
— Línea Caliente Noticias (@linea_caliente_) August 3, 2026
El arquero Vozinha vivió un giro inesperado en su carrera. A sus 40 años, dejó Cabo Verde para convertirse en el nuevo refuerzo de Colo Colo, donde fue recibido por cientos de aficionados en Chile. 🇨🇱👏
Su… pic.twitter.com/7b9eI55iLv
The extraordinary welcome marked the latest chapter in one of the most remarkable stories of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Until the tournament, Josimar José Évora Dias, better known as "Vozinha," was largely unknown outside Portuguese football, where he spent most of his career with GD Chaves after playing in Angola, Cyprus, Moldova and Slovakia.
Then came the World Cup.
The veteran goalkeeper became one of the tournament's breakout stars after leading Cape Verde on its deepest World Cup run, producing a string of spectacular performances that helped the African nation capture the imagination of fans worldwide. His reflex saves against eventual champion Spain, Uruguay and Argentina transformed him into one of the competition's most celebrated players and dramatically raised his international profile.
His performances also caught the attention of Colo-Colo.
Club president Aníbal Mosa confirmed the signing last month, saying Vozinha had earned the opportunity after proving himself on football's biggest stage.
"Vozinha will be a Colo-Colo player. In the coming days he will travel to Chile, undergo the usual medical examinations and then be presented here at the Monumental Stadium," Mosa said when announcing the agreement. He added that the goalkeeper's performances during the World Cup convinced the club he could strengthen the squad while also becoming an important figure for supporters.
The move had appeared to hit several obstacles.
Vozinha's arrival was delayed multiple times because of visa and personal issues, prompting concern among Colo-Colo supporters and speculation in Chile that another club could attempt to sign him before he reached Santiago. Those concerns disappeared Sunday, and after arriving in Santiago, Vozinha thanked supporters who had waited for him despite the uncertainty surrounding his travel.
"I'm very happy to be here. Thank you for this incredible welcome. I can't wait to wear this shirt and start working," the goalkeeper told reporters outside the airport before leaving with club officials.
The goalkeeper is expected to sign an initial six-month contract with an option to extend it for another season after completing his medical examination.
The transfer represents one of the biggest signings in South American football this summer, not only because of Vozinha's World Cup performances but also because of the attention he generated globally.
His Instagram following exploded from roughly 50,000 before the World Cup to more than 17 million after Cape Verde's memorable campaign, making him one of the tournament's biggest social media success stories. Much of that growth came after clips of his spectacular saves went viral across multiple platforms. Now it's over 29.5 million.
Colo-Colo also succeeded in preserving one of the goalkeeper's most recognizable trademarks.
Although Chilean football regulations generally require players to wear their legal surnames on their jerseys, authorities approved an exception allowing him to continue using "Vozinha" on the back of his shirt. The nickname, which means "little grandmother" in Portuguese, honors the grandmother who helped raise him during his childhood in Cape Verde.
For Colo-Colo, the signing comes at a crucial moment as the club looks to strengthen its squad while energizing supporters. For Vozinha, it marks the beginning of his first adventure in South American football after more than a decade spent building his career across Europe and Africa.
If Sunday's reception was any indication, the Cape Verde international won't need much time to feel at home in Santiago.
