New Delhi: Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha is set to begin a new chapter in his career after agreeing to join Chilean club Colo Colo. Club president Anibal
Mosa confirmed the move on Friday, with the 40-year-old expected to travel to Chile soon for his medical before completing the transfer.
Vozinha has been a free agent since leaving Portuguese second-division side Chaves before the FIFA World Cup. His outstanding displays during the tournament attracted interest from several clubs, with reports linking him to Major League Soccer side Inter Miami, where he could have shared a dressing room with Lionel Messi.
The experienced goalkeeper earned plenty of praise after Cape Verde’s impressive World Cup campaign and quickly became one of the tournament’s surprise performers.
Messi’s praise became a special moment
After Cape Verde’s meeting with Argentina, Vozinha revealed the memorable conversation he had with Messi after the final whistle. “I went up to Messi after the game. He hugged me and said, ‘You are great. Your people should be proud of you,'” Vozinha said, according to Yahoo Sports.
“That was incredible for me. Hearing words like that from someone like Leo Messi means a lot to me. I thanked him and said, ‘Thank you, Leo. You are the best.’ Then I asked if we could swap shirts. Leo said he would give it to me in the tunnels after the interview.”
World Cup form opens new door
Speaking before Colo Colo’s league match against Deportes Limache, club president Anibal Mosa praised Vozinha’s performances at the World Cup and said the goalkeeper had earned the opportunity through his displays. The club has also fuelled speculation by teasing the signing on social media with an image matching the veteran’s silhouette.
𝐁𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐃𝐎
𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄
𝐁𝐄𝐌-𝐕𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐎Te esperamos en el Estadio Monumental 🏟⚪️⚫️#VamosCacique pic.twitter.com/ymqPvFTYGS
— Colo-Colo (@ColoColo) July 25, 2026
Vozinha played a key role in Cape Verde’s memorable tournament, helping his side hold eventual champions Spain to a goalless draw in the group stage before producing another standout performance against eventual finalists Argentina. His displays earned widespread praise from supporters and secured him a place in FIFA’s fan-voted World Cup Dream Team, making his move to Colo Colo one of the most talked-about transfers after the tournament.
