Vozinha praises Messi after epic exit and eyes Brazil move
Cape Verde goalkeeper Josimar Dias, known globally as Vozinha, praised Lionel Messi after a 3-2 extra-time loss to Argentina in the 2026 World Cup Round of 16. The 40-year-old hero said playing in Brazil would be good, citing warmth from Brazilian fans, while clubs including Ceará monitor the free agent. His standout saves against the reigning champions turned the Cape Verde stopper into one of the tournament's breakout stories overnight.
Key Takeaways
- Argentina beat Cape Verde 3-2 in extra time on July 3 in Miami, ending the African nation's historic World Cup run.
- Vozinha limited Messi to one goal and said he had great respect for the Argentina star and his teammates.
- The goalkeeper is a free agent after leaving GD Chaves and has not signed with any club yet.
- Brazilian clubs Ceará and Athletic have shown interest; Corinthians declined to advance talks.
- Vozinha posted his first sponsored post after amassing more than 17 million Instagram followers, according to CNN Brasil.
Why did Vozinha become a World Cup sensation?
Herói de Cabo Verde in the nation's first World Cup, Vozinha already made headlines with a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw against Spain in the group stage. Against Argentina, he again held the line in an epic second-round match that went to extra time.
Messi opened the scoring and reached his 20th World Cup goal. Deroy Duarte equalized, Sidny Cabral scored a spectacular equalizer in extra time, and an own goal by Diney Borges decided the tie. Through it all, Vozinha made multiple critical saves against Messi, who managed only one goal in the game, according to UOL.
What did Vozinha say about Messi and Argentina?
Speaking to CazéTV after the defeat, Vozinha said Cape Verde did enough to win and played the defending champions as equals. He added he was proud of the journey but sad the run ended.
He expressed great respect for Messi and all Argentina players, but stressed that on the pitch his focus had to stay on what Cape Verde could achieve. Despite the loss, he said he hoped the national team would reach even greater heights in the future.
Will Josimar Dias sign with a Brazilian club?
Not yet. Sporting News reports that despite Brazilian interest and ongoing negotiations, Vozinha has not announced his next destination. He left GD Chaves before the tournament and can sign without a transfer fee.
Ceará is the club most linked to him, with Athletic of Minas Gerais also monitoring his situation. Corinthians was offered the keeper but chose not to pursue a deal at that stage. Vozinha speaks fluent Portuguese and told UOL that playing in Brazil would be very good after the affection he received from Brazilian fans.
His Chaves salary was roughly 8,400 euros per month, about 50,000 reais, a level Brazilian Serie A and B clubs could afford, Sporting News noted.
How is viral fame reshaping Vozinha's career off the pitch?
Beyond transfer talk, CNN Brasil reports Vozinha surpassed 17 million Instagram followers during the World Cup and published his first commercial post on July 1, promoting the mobile game UFL. Marketing expert Fábio Gonçalves told CNN that Vozinha's appeal rests on both performance and the underdog story of Cape Verde's campaign.
That blend of global visibility and digital influence mirrors trends we cover in Future Tech & AI Wonders, where viral moments increasingly translate into platform reach and new revenue streams for athletes outside traditional elite leagues.