Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha has finished sixth in the 2026 Yachine Trophy rankings after collecting 45 points in a vote that recognised his impressive performances at the World Cup.
The 40-year-old received votes from international journalists, including two first-place selections from representatives of Nigeria and Zambia. Eight other journalists ranked him second, highlighting the recognition he earned following Cape Verde’s historic appearance at the tournament.
Vozinha’s performance in the voting represents a significant achievement for a player who was relatively unknown to the wider football audience before the 2026 World Cup.
Organised by France Football, the Yachine Trophy recognises the world’s outstanding goalkeepers. Vozinha’s inclusion among the 10 nominees was already considered a notable accomplishment, but his sixth-place finish further underlined the impact he made on the international stage.
The Cape Verde international finished ahead of Morocco’s Yassine Bounou, who placed eighth, and Senegal’s Édouard Mendy, who ended the rankings in ninth position.
Spain’s Unai Simón won the award, finishing ahead of fellow finalists David Raya and Thibaut Courtois.
World Cup performances transform Vozinha’s reputation
Vozinha’s rise to international prominence has been closely linked to his displays during the 2026 World Cup, where he helped Cape Verde achieve a historic milestone by qualifying for the competition for the first time.
At the age of 40, the goalkeeper played an important role in the Blue Sharks’ campaign, which saw the African nation reach the round of 16 before their elimination by Argentina.
His performances attracted attention beyond Cape Verde and helped establish him as one of the tournament’s notable individual success stories.
The World Cup provided Vozinha with an opportunity to demonstrate his ability on football’s biggest international stage. His contributions during the competition subsequently earned him recognition in the Yachine Trophy nominations, placing him alongside some of the world’s leading goalkeepers.
The voting figures also reflected the extent of the appreciation he received from journalists across different regions.
Two voters, representing Nigeria and Zambia, placed the Cape Verdean first in their individual rankings. Meanwhile, journalists from Cameroon, South Korea, Côte d’Ivoire, Haiti, Iceland, Jordan, Uzbekistan and Sweden each ranked him second.
Those selections helped Vozinha accumulate 45 points and secure sixth position in the final standings.
Recognition after a historic campaign
Although he did not win the award, Vozinha’s position among the leading goalkeepers represents a major moment in his career.
His achievement is particularly significant given the relatively low profile he had before the World Cup. In the space of a few months, his performances for Cape Verde brought him international attention and recognition from journalists covering the global game.
His sixth-place finish also placed him above two established goalkeepers, Bounou and Mendy, in the final rankings.
For Cape Verde, Vozinha’s recognition provides another indication of the impact the country’s historic World Cup qualification has had on its players.
The 45 points he collected in the Yachine Trophy vote tell the story of a remarkable rise, with the veteran goalkeeper moving from relative obscurity to international recognition following his country’s memorable World Cup campaign.
At 40, Vozinha has demonstrated that his performances can attract attention at the highest level of international football, securing a place among the world’s six highest-ranked goalkeepers in the 2026 award voting.
