Vozinha, the 40-year-old goalkeeper who became a global sensation during Cape Verde's World Cup campaign, has admitted that the fame which followed his heroics has come at a personal cost, saying he misses the quieter existence he once knew.
The veteran shot-stopper captured worldwide attention in June when he produced a string of remarkable saves to help Cape Verde secure a 0-0 draw against reigning European champions Spain on their World Cup debut. The performance was widely seen as one of the tournament's most memorable upsets in spirit, even though it ended level on the scoreboard, and it transformed Vozinha from a relatively unknown player into an overnight international figure. His social media following swelled from around 50,000 to over one million followers in the aftermath of that match.
His profile rose even higher after Cape Verde's tournament run continued into the round of 32, where Argentina needed extra time to eventually get past the small island nation. That result cemented Cape Verde's status as one of the surprise stories of the competition and further boosted Vozinha's standing as a household name well beyond his home country.
However, the goalkeeper says the attention has significantly altered his everyday life. Speaking to the Observer, Vozinha explained that simple outings have become complicated by constant public recognition. "I've lost my peace and tranquillity," he said. "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."
The wave of attention extended even to his family. During the tournament, it emerged that Vozinha's mother had been unable to afford the visa fee required to travel and watch her son's World Cup debut in person. The story prompted US House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries to announce that her visa fee would be waived, allowing her to attend. Vozinha has since revealed that his mother now regularly receives visits from fans eager to meet her or take photographs, a reflection of just how far his newfound celebrity has spread.
Reflecting on the trade-offs that come with sudden stardom, Vozinha suggested that many people underestimate the difficulties that accompany public recognition. "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."
Despite the personal toll, Vozinha's achievements have been recognized at the highest levels of the sport. His performances for Cape Verde — a West African island nation with a population of roughly 525,000 — earned him a nomination for men's goalkeeper of the year at the Ballon d'Or awards, placing him among the sport's most celebrated shot-stoppers for the year.
Vozinha, however, has been keen to frame the achievement as something larger than himself. "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," he said. "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."
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.