Cape Verde’s fairy-tale World Cup run keeps paying off. Josimar José Évora Dias, better known as Vozinha, says he’s overwhelmed after learning he’s one of ten finalists for the Yashin Trophy, the Ballon d’Or’s prize for the sport’s top goalkeeper. Cape Verde is a small island nation off the coast of West Africa that had never before qualified for a World Cup.
The 40-year-old shot-stopper became a household name during the 2026 tournament, keeping a clean sheet against Spain, holding Uruguay to a 2-2 draw, and blanking Saudi Arabia as Cape Verde advanced to the round of 32 in its historic debut appearance. The team’s run ended with a narrow 3-2 loss to Argentina.
“This nomination isn’t mine alone,” Vozinha wrote on Instagram, dedicating the honor to his hometown of São Vicente and to “a people who never stopped believing.” His performances helped him amass nearly 30 million social media followers and land alongside elite European keepers such as Unai Simón, David Raya, Joan García, Emiliano Martínez and Thibaut Courtois on this year’s shortlist.
After his contract with Portugal’s second-division club Chaves ended, Vozinha’s World Cup heroics opened the door to South America, where he signed with Chile’s Colo Colo, a reigning Copa Libertadores champion.
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Source: Vozinha, el héroe de Cabo Verde en el Mundial, emocionado al ser nominado al Balón de Oro como mejor portero (eltiempo.com). English version produced with AI assistance.
Image: USAG-Humphreys, BY 2.0 (via Openverse).