|
Profile |
Details |
|---|---|
|
Full Name |
Josimar Jose Evora Dias |
|
Known As |
Vozinha |
|
Date of Birth |
3 June 1986 |
|
Age in 2026 |
40 years |
|
Place of Birth |
Mindelo, Sao Vicente, Cape Verde |
|
Nationality |
Cape Verdean |
|
Height |
1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) |
|
Position |
Goalkeeper |
|
Preferred Foot |
Right |
|
Current Club |
GD Chaves (Liga Portugal 2) |
|
Shirt Number |
1 |
|
National Team |
Cape Verde |
|
Senior International Debut |
2012 |
|
International Caps |
Over 80 |
|
Major Tournament |
FIFA World Cup 2026 (debut) |
|
Estimated Net Worth (2026) |
$400,000 to $1 million |
There is something about an underdog story that football fans never grow tired of, and Vozinha is right in the middle of one of the best of them in 2026. The 40 year old Cape Verdean goalkeeper has spent most of his career far away from the big lights of European football, yet his name is now everywhere after Cape Verde turned heads at their first ever FIFA World Cup.
Net worth and Salary
Money has never been the headline with Vozinha. He has built his career through smaller clubs across Africa, Eastern Europe, Cyprus and now Portugal, and the wages along the way have been modest compared to top flight stars. Icon Polls estimates that his net worth in 2026 sits somewhere between $400,000 and $1 million. That number takes into account his earnings from clubs like AEL Limassol, AS Trencin and GD Chaves, together with his national team duties for Cape Verde over more than a decade.
His current salary at Chaves, who play in the Portuguese second tier, is believed to be in the lower to mid range for the league, reflecting both his age and the level of competition. Even so, the bump in profile from his World Cup performance against Spain has the potential to shift sponsorship interest and post career opportunities in his direction, which could change those numbers over the next year or two.
Age
Vozinha was born on 3 June 1986 in Mindelo, on the island of Sao Vicente, which makes him 40 years old in 2026. He is one of the older players at this World Cup, and his age has become part of the story rather than a footnote. Most goalkeepers are well into retirement by this stage of life, yet here he is, between the sticks for his country at the biggest event in world football. He has spoken often about being raised by his grandparents, since his father served in the military and his mother had to work long hours to support the family. That upbringing helped shape the calm, grounded presence he now carries on the pitch.
Goalkeeper
At 6 ft 2 in tall, Vozinha is not the tallest keeper in the modern game, but he plays bigger than his frame. He is right footed, brave coming off his line, and known for sharp reflexes from close range. His style has been described as old school in the best sense, since he relies on positioning and reading the game rather than flashy showboating. Coaches over the years have praised him for being a steady voice in the dressing room as well as on the field, which fits his nickname rather well.
World Cup
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The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the first time Vozinha and the Cape Verde national team have ever appeared at the tournament. The Blue Sharks were drawn into Group H alongside Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia, and the opening fixture against Spain at Atlanta Stadium turned into the moment of his life. Cape Verde held La Roja to a 0-0 draw, with Vozinha making seven saves while facing 27 shots. He was named man of the match and lifted the whole nation in the process. People who had never heard of him before that night were suddenly searching his name across every platform.
Record
Vozinha now holds a unique World Cup record. He is the oldest goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet on his World Cup debut, doing so at the age of 40. That is not a small line in any career, and it places him in the history books alongside some of football's best late career stories. He also has more than 80 caps for Cape Verde after making his international debut in 2012, and he has featured at four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments in 2013, 2015, 2022 and 2023. Icon Polls puts him among the most searched African goalkeepers of 2026, which says a lot about how quickly his name has spread.
Stats
On the club side, Vozinha has played close to 200 league matches across his time in Angola, Moldova, Portugal, Cyprus and Slovakia. During the 2024/2025 season at Chaves, he kept 11 clean sheets in 32 league appearances with a save percentage of 76.7, which is strong by any league standard. His honours list includes two senior trophies, the Cyprus Cup in 2018/2019 with AEL Limassol and the Cape Verdean Campeonato Nacional in 2011 with CS Mindelense. Icon Polls research highlights his consistency over the years rather than flashy headline numbers, and consistency is exactly what coaches at this level value most in a number one.
Transfer values
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Vozinha has rarely commanded large transfer fees during his career. Most of his moves in recent years have come as free transfers, which is common for experienced goalkeepers in his bracket. His market value in 2026 sits in the range of around 48,000 euros to 149,800 euros depending on which tracker you check. Icon Polls findings note that his profile may rise slightly after the World Cup, but at 40 years old he is unlikely to attract a major paid move. His contract with Chaves runs until June 2026, and what he chooses to do next is one of the more interesting stories to watch in African football.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is Vozinha?
Vozinha, whose real name is Josimar Jose Evora Dias, is a Cape Verdean professional goalkeeper who plays for GD Chaves in Portugal and represents the Cape Verde national team at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
2. How old is Vozinha?
He is 40 years old, having been born on 3 June 1986.
3. Where was Vozinha born?
He was born in Mindelo, on the island of Sao Vicente in Cape Verde.
4. What is the meaning of the name Vozinha?
The word Vozinha translates roughly to "little voice" in Portuguese. The nickname was given to him during his childhood and has followed him throughout his career.
5. Why is Vozinha called Vozinha?
His grandparents started calling him that when he was a child. He kept the name on his shirt throughout his career because everyone back home knew him by it, and he did not want to be confused with another goalkeeper named Josimar when he played in Angola.
6. What position does Vozinha play?
He is a goalkeeper and has played in that position throughout his entire senior career.
7. What club does Vozinha play for in 2026?
He plays for GD Chaves, a Portuguese second division club competing in Liga Portugal 2.
8. How tall is Vozinha?
He stands at 1.89 metres, which is about 6 feet 2 inches.
9. When did Vozinha make his Cape Verde debut?
He made his international debut for the Cape Verde national team in 2012.
10. How many caps does Vozinha have for Cape Verde?
He had over 80 senior international caps for Cape Verde heading into the 2026 World Cup.
11. What is Vozinha's net worth in 2026?
His estimated net worth in 2026 falls between $400,000 and $1 million, based on his career earnings from multiple clubs across Africa and Europe along with his national team service.
12. What is Vozinha's salary at Chaves?
His exact salary is not publicly confirmed, but it is believed to be modest by top flight standards, in line with what Liga Portugal 2 clubs typically pay experienced players.
13. What record did Vozinha break at the 2026 World Cup?
He became the oldest goalkeeper in World Cup history to keep a clean sheet on his tournament debut, at the age of 40.
14. How many saves did Vozinha make against Spain?
He made seven saves against Spain in Cape Verde's historic 0-0 draw in their opening Group H match.
15. Which group is Cape Verde in at the 2026 World Cup?
Cape Verde is in Group H along with Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia.
16. How many Africa Cup of Nations tournaments has Vozinha played in?
He has featured at four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments in 2013, 2015, 2022 and 2023.
17. What clubs has Vozinha played for in his career?
He has played for Batuque FC, CS Mindelense, Progresso, Zimbru Chisinau, Gil Vicente, AEL Limassol, AS Trencin and GD Chaves.
18. What trophies has Vozinha won?
He has won the Cyprus Cup in 2018/2019 with AEL Limassol and the Cape Verdean Campeonato Nacional in 2011 with CS Mindelense.
19. What is Vozinha's market value in 2026?
His market value in 2026 is reported to be in the region of 48,000 euros to 149,800 euros, depending on the source you use.
20. When does Vozinha's contract expire?
His current contract with GD Chaves is set to expire on 30 June 2026.
21. Is Vozinha married?
Details about his personal life and family are kept private. He rarely speaks about that side of his life in interviews.
22. Is Vozinha planning to retire soon?
There has been no official retirement announcement, but at 40 years old he is clearly in the closing chapter of his playing career. Many fans expect a coaching or ambassador role to follow.
23. What was Vozinha's childhood like?
He was raised by his grandparents in Cape Verde because his father was serving in the military and his mother worked long hours to keep the family going.
24. What languages does Vozinha speak?
He is fluent in Portuguese and Cape Verdean Creole. He has also picked up enough English and Greek over the years from his time at clubs in Cyprus and beyond.