Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha has officially arrived in Chile to join Colo-Colo, signing a six-month contract with the option of extending his stay for another year.

The 40-year-old goalkeeper became one of the tournament’s biggest fan favourites after helping Cape Verde reach the knockout stage in the country’s first-ever World Cup appearance. The African nation earned impressive draws against Spain and Uruguay before narrowly falling to Argentina in the Round of 32, with Vozinha delivering several standout performances.

His World Cup heroics also turned him into an internet sensation. During the tournament, his Instagram following exploded from around 50,000 followers to more than 17 million, making him one of the biggest breakout stars off the pitch.

Colo-Colo has also received permission for the veteran goalkeeper to wear “Vozinha” on the back of his jersey instead of his legal name, despite league regulations that normally prohibit nicknames.

Interestingly, the nickname “Vozinha,” which translates to “little grandmother” in Portuguese, dates back to his childhood. Friends gave him the name because he would run home crying to his grandparents after losing neighbourhood football matches.

Vozinha is expected to begin training this week and could make his Chilean league debut in mid-August as Colo-Colo continues its push for another league title.