Inter Miami are reportedly weighing a sensational move for Vozinha, the Cape Verde goalkeeper whose World Cup heroics stunned the football world and earned him admiration from none other than Lionel Messi.
The 40-year-old shotstopper, fresh off an extraordinary tournament run with Cape Verde, is on the hunt for a new club after his contract with Portuguese side Chaves expired-placing him firmly on the radar of David Beckham’s ambitious MLS franchise.
Vozinha’s performances in the World Cup electrified fans and pundits alike. He was instrumental in Cape Verde’s historic progression to the knockout stages, where they pushed Argentina to extra-time in a dramatic five-goal contest. Beckham, present in the stands during that epic encounter, witnessed Vozinha deliver a masterclass, most notably with a miraculous one-on-one save to deny Messi himself as Cape Verde threatened to pull off the shock of the tournament.
Despite his age, Vozinha has shown no signs of slowing down, declaring his intention to continue his career at the highest level. The veteran goalkeeper’s international profile has soared, transforming him from a relative unknown into one of the most followed goalkeepers globally, thanks to his exploits on football’s biggest stage. His social media presence exploded as Cape Verde’s underdog story captured the imagination of fans worldwide.
Messi’s respect for Vozinha was evident in their post-match exchange. Vozinha recounted, “I went up to Messi after the game. He hugged me and said, ‘You are great. Your people should be proud of you’. That was incredible for me.” The Cape Verdean also revealed he asked Messi for his shirt, and the Argentina captain promised to swap jerseys in the tunnel after his interviews. “Hearing words like that from someone like Leo Messi means a lot to me. I thanked him and said, ‘Thank you, Leo. You are the best’,” Vozinha shared, underlining the emotional significance of the moment.
Vozinha’s World Cup campaign began with a statement performance, shutting out European champions Spain in the opener and helping Cape Verde announce themselves on the global stage. For 14 years, he has been his country’s first-choice goalkeeper, with a club career spanning Angola, Moldova, Portugal, Cyprus, and Slovakia.
Reflecting on Cape Verde’s historic achievements, Vozinha told Fox, “I work hard all my life for this, for this moment, for this dream. A lot of generations in the past were dreaming of this, they didn’t achieve it, many ex players from our national team … And now the dream has come true.”
Should Inter Miami make their move, Vozinha could realize another dream-lining up alongside Lionel Messi and further elevating the club’s profile in Major League Soccer. The Florida-based team currently counts Luis Barraza and Rocco Rios Novo among their goalkeeping options, but the addition of a World Cup star like Vozinha would be a statement of intent and a headline-grabbing coup for the MLS side.