FIFA World Cup 2026 star goalkeeper Vozinha arrived in Chile on Sunday to join Colo Colo after a period of uncertainty that had put his move in doubt. The 40-year-old made history with Cape Verde at the recently concluded World Cup

“I’m very happy to be here. And I want to thank the fans for the patience they’ve shown while waiting for me. See you at the Monumental Stadium,” the Cape Verde goalkeeper told the reporters after landing in Santiago.

Seen as one of the most successful clubs in Chile, Colo Colo has announced the signing of Vozinha on July 24. However, the contract could not materialise due to a plethora of setbacks, which included documentation issues and personal matters. Moreover, to add to the list of problems, the 40-year-old failed to arrive in Chile on time, causing concerns both within and outside the club.

He finally arrived in Santiago at 8:35 pm local time and was welcomed by a huge crowd of supporters who gathered at the terminal with flags, banners, drums, and chants. Colo Colo supporters are hoping the veteran can play a key role in helping the club secure the Chilean league title and boost its ambitions on the continental stage.

“I’m excited. And if Colo Colo wins the title, next year comes the Copa Libertadores, which makes everything even more exciting for all of Chile and South America,” Marcos Antonio Barrera, a 32-year-old club supporter, said.

Vozinha is scheduled to undergo medical examinations on Monday before completing his move to Colo Colo. The initial contract will run for six months, with an option to extend it by another 12 months.

The club said the goalkeeper is expected to join training on Tuesday and will be officially presented as the team’s marquee signing for the remainder of the campaign on the same day.

Colo Colo To Allow Famous ‘Vozinha’ Nickname

The veteran goalkeeper will also be able to continue using the nickname that made him famous on his jersey. The Chilean Football Federation unanimously agreed on Friday to amend its regulations to allow the goalkeeper to be identified as Vozinha, which means “grandma” in Portuguese.

The change was required because Chilean league rules traditionally require players to wear only their surnames on the back of their shirts.

Vozinha arrives in Chile after ending his spell with Chaves in Portugal’s second division. His World Cup performances turned him into one of the tournament’s breakout stars, with spectacular saves against Spain, Uruguay and Lionel Messi’s Argentina before Cape Verde were eliminated by Argentina in the Round of 32.

His sudden rise to fame has extended well beyond the pitch. Before the World Cup, Vozinha had fewer than 50,000 Instagram followers. That figure has since surged to more than 29.5 million.

“The Colo Colo family and all of Chile are eagerly waiting. Now he has to earn his place at Colo Colo through talent, dedication, hard work, commitment, and by winning over the fans. Hopefully, he’ll be a great signing and help put Chile on the map,” another fan, Sebastián Paredes, said.

By PTI

With inputs from the Associated Press