Vozinha and the 'price' of instant fame after the World Cup: "Many people wanted to take advantage of me..."

Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha reflects on the toll of sudden fame after his World Cup heroics, saying he lost his privacy and faced people trying to exploit him.

Vozinha, Cape Verde's goalkeeper, became an international sensation after his seven-save performance in his country's historic draw with Spain at the World Cup. In an interview with L'Équipe, he reveals the downside of overnight fame: his Instagram followers jumped from tens of thousands to 28 million during the tournament, and he was overwhelmed by hundreds of daily messages and contact attempts from strangers with ulterior motives. He admits he would choose to return to obscurity if he could, having lost his peace and privacy despite his mental strength.