Cape Verde World Cup hero Vozinha admits fame has cost him his peace

Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha has admitted that his remarkable World Cup heroics have come at the cost of his privacy and peace of mind. The 40-year-old shot to global prominence after helping Cape Verde hold European champions Spain to a goalless draw on their World Cup debut before producing another impressive display against Argentina in the round of 32.

According to the BBC, Vozinha’s social-media following surged from around 50,000 to more than one million during the tournament and has since grown beyond 28 million. However, he says the attention has made everyday life increasingly difficult, with fans frequently approaching him for photographs and autographs or filming him without permission.

His mother has also attracted attention from supporters. Vozinha, who was nominated for the Ballon d’Or men’s goalkeeper award, said he would choose his previous life if given the choice, while stressing that Cape Verde’s historic campaign was a collective achievement.