Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha has opened up about the impact of his overnight fame after his impressive performance at the 2026 World Cup.
The 40-year-old became an internet sensation after making seven saves in Cape Verde’s 0-0 draw against Spain, with his Instagram following reportedly rising from 56,000 to over one million within hours.
Speaking to The Observer, Vozinha said: “I’ve lost my peace and tranquillity. I no longer have any privacy, or at least much less than I used to. 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.”
Recalling the moment he discovered his sudden popularity, he said: “A member of the team’s catering staff came up to me and told me I had a billion followers. I had no idea what he was talking about; I thought he was joking, but he insisted.”
He added: “Later, I went to do some interviews in the mixed zone and a CazeTV journalist asked me if I knew what was happening. She showed me her phone and that was when I saw that I had more than a million followers.”
