SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Vozinha is cashing in on his newfound fame by promoting the new Spider-Man film. The 40-year-old World Cup star's arrival to his new club in Chile, however, was caught up in old-fashioned paperwork.
The Cape Verde goalkeeper was scheduled to be with Colo Colo by Wednesday, but Chile’s biggest and most successful club says Vozinha's trip has been delayed because of paperwork. They're hopeful of a Thursday arrival.
Vozinha was still able to wear a jersey Wednesday though — by donning Spider-Man gear as part of a Sony Pictures Brazil campaign promoting “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.” On Instagram, Vozinha encouraged his 29.6 million followers — up from under 50,000 before the World Cup — to go see the film.
Meanwhile, Colo Colo is also racing to resolve some issues regarding Vozinha.
The most pressing concern is the name that will appear on the goalkeeper’s jersey. Regulations from the Chilean National Association of Professional Football (ANFP) require players to use their surname. This means that Vozinha — whose real name is Josimar José Évora Dias — would not be allowed to use the nickname that made him famous around the world.
That would be a setback not only for the player — whose moniker means “grandma” in Portuguese, a tribute to the woman who raised him — but also to the personal brand he has built worldwide.
According to ANFP regulations, “nicknames, appellations, or sobriquets will not be permitted” in the domestic competition. Players who fail to comply face an administrative yellow card, while their clubs can be fined up to $875.
Colo Colo has requested an exemption from the Council of Presidents, the body comprised of the top executives of Chilean clubs. The board is expected to vote on the matter Friday, and the decision must be unanimous for Vozinha to wear his nickname.
Another challenge will be deciding which jersey number the Cape Verdean will wear, as the traditional goalkeeper numbers are already assigned, with Argentine goalkeeper Fernando de Paul wearing No. 1.
Vozinha emerged as one of the breakout stars of the World Cup by leading debutant Cape Verde on a remarkable run. He kept a clean sheet against eventual champion Spain in the team’s opening match before producing a series of spectacular saves against Argentina in the round of 32, where Cape Verde lost 3-2.
His move to South America has generated enormous interest in Chile, where the national team failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup after finishing last in the qualifiers.
Vozinha’s signing is also expected to boost the profile of both Colo Colo and Chilean football while creating significant commercial opportunities.
As his social media following soared, Vozinha has become the face of several advertising campaigns.
Across Chile, meanwhile, the “Vozinha effect” is already being felt. Since announcing the signing, Colo Colo has gained nearly 70,000 followers across its social media platforms, many of them from overseas.
“The whole world is getting to know Colo Colo better,” supporter Héctor Hermosilla said. “The world’s cameras will be on Vozinha and that’s going to be good for the club."
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha gathers the ball ahead of former Mexican soccer player Luis Hernandez during a FIFA legends soccer match being played two days ahead of the World Cup final in New York, Friday, July 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Tucker Kraft and the Green Bay Packers haven’t agreed on a contract extension just yet, but the star tight end and his team are on the same page regarding the timing of a new deal.
The sooner, the better.
“I think it would be best,” Kraft said following the Packers’ first practice of training camp on Wednesday, “if we got it done as soon as possible.”
Kraft later detailed why time is of the essence.
“I think the best chance for Green Bay to win a Lombardi (Trophy) is with me on the field as well," Kraft said. "That’s people under the front office telling me that and the importance of us getting this deal done in a timely fashion. But ultimately, like I’ve said over and over again, I’m just so grateful to be a part of this organization, and I would like to keep it that way.”
Kraft is on the physically-unable-to-perform list after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee on Nov. 2 during a 16-13 loss to the Carolina Panthers at Lambeau Field, ending his 2025 season.
He didn't take part in practice Wednesday, but did run routes and catch passes on his own with a team staffer while his teammates worked at the other end of Ray Nitschke Field.
Kraft was one of nine players who didn't practice while on the PUP list, a group that included All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons (knee), backup tight end Luke Musgrave (neck) and starting defensive tackle Javon Hargrave (knee). Starting left guard Aaron Banks was activated off the PUP list and practiced.
“I was very eager,” Kraft said of watching practice. “I wanted it to be my turn all the time.”
Kraft caught 32 passes for 489 yards and six touchdowns in just eight games last year. Kraft made the case during the offseason that he was the NFL’s best tight end at the time of his injury.
His best game of the season came the week before the injury, when he caught seven passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns from quarterback Jordan Love in a 35-25 victory at Pittsburgh.
Kraft said last month that he intends to play in the team’s Sept. 13 season opener at Minnesota without any snap-count restrictions, and general manager Brian Gutekunst said Wednesday that he believes Kraft is trending toward practicing “sooner rather than later,” although he didn't provide a timeline.
“Even when he’s not ready for the team (periods), the more individual work he can get done with Jordan is going to be important for him as he heads into the season,” Gutekunst said.
“Obviously, we want to be protective. He’s coming off a major injury and he’s still at about that 8 1/2-month mark. But the way he looks, you’d think he’s ready to go.”
Asked if he feels an urgency to get Kraft’s extension done after inking three other key players — defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt and wide receivers Christian Watson and Jayden Reed — to long-term extensions, Gutekunst said those deals were done knowing Kraft’s would be done next.
“There’s been discussions. Certainly both us and him (feel) it’s in the best interest to try to get something done, but these things take time,” Gutekunst said. “We’ve gone through a bunch of extensions this summer, kind of knowing this was going to be the one (to do) right about now.
“We have a little bit of time because he’s just not there yet (physically), but I would expect hopefully that would get done. But you never know how they’re going to go.”
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft rides a bike to practice at the team's NFL football training camp, Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)
