Vozinha Makes Dramatic Arrival for Ballon d'Or Ceremony

Josimar José Évora Dias, known as Vozinha, reached the London Palladium on Monday night just in time for the Ballon d'Or ceremony.

The 40-year-old goalkeeper traveled from Santiago, Chile, to Madrid and then to London in a marathon journey that began only six hours before the event started. He had just finished a league match for Colo-Colo on Sunday, a game he was expected to miss in order to attend the awards. Despite the tight schedule, Vozinha secured a starting appearance and made three saves in a 1-1 draw against Palestino.

His nomination for the Yashin Trophy recognized his performance at the 2026 World Cup, where he played for Cape Verde. In the tournament opener, Vozinha kept a clean sheet against eventual champions Spain. Later, in the round of 32, he forced eventual finalists Argentina into extra time. His social media following surged from 56,000 to 27.7 million during those weeks, and fans voted him into FIFA's Dream XI.

The journey to London was chaotic. Vozinha wore a white track suit through the Santiago airport, escorted by a bodyguard. He then boarded a private jet in Madrid for the final leg to the UK. His tuxedo was packed in the back of the plane, and he changed hurriedly before navigating crowded streets to the venue.

Upon arrival, Vozinha acted more like a fan than a nominee. He took photos with Barcelona player Lamine Yamal and manager Fabio Capello. He signed numerous autographs and arrived with a wide-eyed expression. A video presentation at the ceremony cut short before listing his name, a technical error that underscored his status as an underdog compared to favorites like Unai Simón and David Raya.

In a recent interview with The Observer, Vozinha described his sudden fame as burdensome. "A lot of people want to be famous and have a public profile, but they only see the positive side of that reality," he said. "To be honest, if I were offered the life I have today or the life I had before, I'd choose the one I had before."

His manager at Chaves, Vítor Martins, noted that Vozinha was living a moment he previously thought impossible. "He was a perfect professional until the end," Martins said. Vozinha sat in the second row, far from an aisle, knowing he would not need to walk to the stage. He lingered in the aisle after the ceremony, looking up at the chandeliers, having spent the evening among the game's biggest names.