After earning wide acclaim for his World Cup performances with Cape Verde, goalkeeper João Vozinha has received a new honour – a freshly discovered species of sea slug has been named for him.
The bright red mollusc was found in the Caribbean by biologist Jesús Ortea, who chose the name Aldisa vozinha to honour the 40‑year‑old goalkeeper’s decisive role in the tiny nation’s campaign.
Among Cape Verde’s most memorable moments was their goalless draw with European champions Spain, where Vozinha’s seven saves preserved a clean sheet and secured the country’s first World Cup point.
Ortea, professor emeritus at the University of Oviedo, noted that the slug’s vivid red colour “reminds of the player’s feat” and that the naming also nods to the Spanish side’s nickname, La Roja.
Vozinha’s heroic match sent his fame through the internet’s strata, his Instagram following jumping from 50,000 to 17.4 million in a matter of days.
In 2023 Ortea received a Medal of Merit from Cape Verde for his work in the waters surrounding the islands, a recognition that pairs well with his interest in aligning scientific discovery with sporting achievement.
He has previously named other marine species after football icons: a Costa Rican discovery received the name of former Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas, and a creature with colours matching Spanish club Sporting Gijón was dubbed after striker Quini.
