Former AEL Limassol goalkeeper Josimar José Évora Dias, widely known as Vozinha, could be on the verge of a sensational move to Major League Soccer to team up with Lionel Messi at Inter Miami CF.
According to transfer market reports credited to MARCA, via a report by the international network TVN, the David Beckham-led franchise has placed the 40-year-old Cape Verde international high on its shortlist following his standout performances in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Cyprus legacy
The potential move represents a rare trajectory for a former Cypriot First Division player. Vozinha is a familiar name to local football fans, having spent five seasons guarding the net for AEL Limassol between 2017 and 2022.
During his half-decade in Limassol, Vozinha cemented his place in club folklore. He was the starting keeper during AEL’s 2018/19 Cyprus Cup triumph, keeping a vital clean sheet in the 2–0 final victory against APOEL to help the club lift the trophy. Crucially for AEL fans, that victory remains the last major domestic trophy that the club has won.
If the deal is completed, Vozinha would experience a major career plot twist, moving from playing in small stadiums across Cyprus, to facing Messi’s attacks on the international stage, to sharing a locker room and defending the goal for the team the Argentine icon captains.
World Cup breakthrough
The sudden interest from the United States follows Cape Verde’s historic run at the World Cup. Vozinha became one of the breakout stars of the tournament, keeping group-stage clean sheets against Spain and Saudi Arabia before producing a brilliant display during a 3–2 extra-time defeat to reigning champions Argentina in the Round of 32.
Played at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, the match saw Vozinha frustrate the tournament favourites by racking up eight saves, including directly denying three clear-cut scoring opportunities from Messi. The performance gained widespread praise from the international media and reportedly caught the attention of Inter Miami’s scouting team in attendance.
His on-field heroics also triggered an unprecedented social media explosion. Vozinha entered the World Cup as a free agent with just 50,000 Instagram followers, but he leaves the tournament with an astonishing 28 million followers. The massive surge has officially made him the most-followed goalkeeper on the platform, and by some distance. The keeper with the second most followers is Emiliano Martinez,who has 15.4m followers. That’s just a little over half of what the Cape Verde goalkeeper has.
Free agent status
The logistics of the transfer favour Inter Miami, as Vozinha is currently a free agent. His contract with Portuguese second-division side G.D. Chaves officially expired on June 30, 2026.
Because the Florida-based club does not need to negotiate a transfer fee, the signing is highly feasible under Major League Soccer’s strict salary cap and roster compliance regulations.
Negotiations are expected to intensify once the tournament has finished as Beckham’s management looks to finalise the deal ahead of the upcoming domestic league fixtures.
