Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha has admitted he was stunned by his nomination for the 2026 Yashin Trophy, saying he initially believed the news was a prank.
The 40-year-old is one of 10 goalkeepers shortlisted for the prestigious individual award after a year in which his performances for Cape Verde helped make him one of the most recognisable goalkeepers in football.
Despite the recognition, Vozinha has questioned whether he deserves a place on the shortlist alongside goalkeepers playing for some of the world’s leading clubs and in the strongest leagues.
The veteran goalkeeper said his first reaction to the nomination was disbelief and suggested that the recognition should also be viewed as an honour for Cape Verde.
“Many people will say it’s unfair, and in a way, that’s how I feel too. I thought it was a joke when I heard the news. I say that because I have enormous respect for all these great goalkeepers playing in the best leagues and for the best teams in the world. I see it mainly as another reward for the whole of Cape Verde. At this stage of my career and my life, it’s a gift from the universe. So thank you to those who put me there.”
Vozinha’s inclusion places him among the leading goalkeepers considered for the 2026 Yashin Trophy, an achievement that comes at the later stages of a long career.
He is one of three African goalkeepers on the 10-player shortlist. Morocco’s Yassine Bounou and Senegal’s Édouard Mendy are the other African representatives named alongside him.
The nomination represents another significant moment in Vozinha’s career, particularly because his reputation during the year has been closely linked to his performances for his country.
At club level, the goalkeeper continues to play in Chile for Colo-Colo.
His performances for Cape Verde have nevertheless been central to his emergence as one of the goalkeepers attracting attention in 2026.
Vozinha’s reaction to the nomination has highlighted the unusual nature of the recognition from his perspective. Rather than presenting the shortlist appearance as an individual achievement alone, he has viewed it as something that reflects positively on Cape Verde as a whole.
His comments also underline the scale of the competition he faces for the award. The shortlist includes goalkeepers who operate regularly at some of the world’s biggest clubs and in major European leagues.
For Vozinha, that makes his inclusion particularly difficult to take for granted.
At 40, the nomination comes at a distinctive stage of his playing career. He described the recognition as a gift, while expressing gratitude to those responsible for placing his name among the nominees.
His performances for Cape Verde have helped change the way he is viewed during a year that has brought him into wider international attention.
The veteran is now competing alongside nine other goalkeepers for one of football’s most prominent individual goalkeeper awards.
Bounou and Mendy’s presence means Africa has three representatives on the shortlist, giving the continent a notable presence among the 10 nominees.
Vozinha’s continued club career with Colo-Colo in Chile has provided the backdrop to a year in which his international performances have attracted particular attention.
His nomination also represents recognition for Cape Verde, which he believes should share in the significance of the achievement.
Rather than focusing solely on personal success, the goalkeeper has repeatedly framed the nomination as a reward for his country and expressed gratitude for being considered.
The final outcome of the Yashin Trophy is yet to be determined, but Vozinha has already secured an unexpected place among the leading goalkeepers of 2026.
For a player who initially thought the news was a joke, his inclusion on the 10-man shortlist has become another notable milestone in a career that continues to produce surprises.
