Vozinha, Cabo Verde’s goalkeeper, World Cup 2026 vs Spain; Cabo Verde’s maiden World Cup.
FIFA World Cup 2026: Who is Vozinha? Meet the ‘Voice’ of Cabo Verde’s national team
FIFA World Cup 2026: Who is Vozinha? Meet the ‘Voice’ of Cabo Verde’s national team
Meet the curiously nicknamed goalkeeper leading Cabo Verde at their maiden FIFA World Cup.
Eagled-eyed viewers may have spotted a curious name donning one of the Cabo Verde shirts in their maiden FIFA World Cup appearance against Spain on Monday (15 June).
Worn by goalkeeper Josimar José Évora Dias , his shirt depicts a nickname that has followed him throughout his career: Vozinha. The English translation reads as Voice , perfectly apt for the 40-year-old leader.
Currently playing in the second tier of Portuguese football , it dates back to his childhood where he lived on the island of São Vicente, Cabo Verde.
“The nickname is because of my grandparents,” he told FIFA . “I never lived with my parents. When I was born, my father was in the military service and my mother had to work hard for something, so I always grew up with my grandparents.”
His first move out of his home country took him to Angola, where he played for Progresso. Among the various things he packed with him for this new adventure was the nickname now known globally.
“No one in Cape Verde knew me like that [by name], but I didn’t like it at first, I went crazy,” he revealed.
“When I arrived in Angola, there was another goalkeeper named Josimar and I said I am not going put Josimar II on the shirt – if everyone knew me as Vozinha in Cape Verde, that’s what I would be.”
The longevity of the shot-stopper speaks for itself, making his debut for the national team 14 years ago and racking up over 80 appearances for the Blue Sharks since then.
He has featured in four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, though this – alongside his teammates – his first FIFA World Cup.
Drawn into Group H alongside Spain, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia, Vozinha will no doubt be a very busy man between the sticks.
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Picture by 2026 Getty Images