Following his impressive performance during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, goalkeeper Vozinha has joined the Chilean club Colo-Colo. However, the player may be required to drop his signature nickname on his jersey due to strict Chilean football regulations.
Current rules established by the Chilean National Association of Professional Football mandate that players must display their actual surnames on their kits, rather than nicknames. Because of this, the 40-year-old athlete might be forced to use his legal name, Josimar José Évora Dias.
Colo-Colo leadership is actively working to resolve this issue. Club president Aníbal Mosa has reached out to the ANFP and the Council of Presidents, requesting an exemption. The club argues that because he displayed the name on the global stage during the World Cup, he should be allowed to keep it. Historically, the ANFP has occasionally granted exceptions for such requests.
The nickname Vozinha, which means “little grandmother,” originated during his childhood when he would return to his grandparents’ home after losing games. As he prepares for his debut in Santiago under a new contract, the goalkeeper is navigating this administrative hurdle to preserve the identity that gained him worldwide popularity.
