‘I no longer have any privacy’: Vozinha reflects on price of World Cup fame

Praia, Cape Verde - Vozinha, the 40-year-old goalkeeper who led his nation to the World Cup round of 32, admits that the newfound fame has taken a toll on his peace of mind. Cape Verde, a small archipelago off the coast of Africa, made history by becoming the first African nation to reach the knockout stage in their debut World Cup appearance, although they ultimately fell to Argentina in a hard-fought match.

Vozinha's exceptional goalkeeping, which saw him keep clean sheets against eventual champions Spain and Saudi Arabia, earned him a nomination for the Yashin Trophy, awarded to the year's best goalkeeper. As a result, his social media following skyrocketed from 56,000 to over 28 million followers. However, this sudden surge in attention has left Vozinha feeling powerless to cope with the intense scrutiny and lack of privacy.

"I've lost my peace and tranquillity," Vozinha told Britain's Observer newspaper. "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's filming me... I don't think there's anything I can do about it."

Even his family members have been affected, with fans constantly appearing at his mother's house in Cape Verde. Vozinha laments, "I'm not there, so I can't help them."

The star goalkeeper recently moved from Portuguese second-tier club Chaves to Chile's Colo-Colo in July. Reflecting on his decision to pursue fame, Vozinha admits, "A lot of people want to be famous... but they only see the positive side of that reality. 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."