After making headlines in the 2026 World Cup, Cape Verde’s goalkeeper João Vozinha just earned a new honour – a sea slug named in his tribute!
Biologist Jesus Ortea spotted a tiny red mollusc while exploring the Caribbean and chose the name Aldisa vozinha after the keeper’s stellar performance against Spain.
The slug’s bright red colour nods to Spain’s nickname “La Roja”, while the scientist praised the keeper’s “prominent role” in the match.
Vozinha’s single‑match highlight turned his Instagram following from 50,000 to 17.4 million overnight – a figure that outstrips even NFL legend Tom Brady.
It’s not the first time a scientist has given a species a pop‑culture name: Ortea previously honoured former Real Madrid star Keylor Navas with a Costa Rica find, and a creature the colour of Sporting Gijón was named after ex‑striker Quini.
Quick facts
- Species: Aldisa vozinha – a red sea slug discovered in the Caribbean.
- Named after Canadian‑born goalkeeper João Vozinha of Cape Verde.
- Connection: Red colour links to Spain’s “La Roja” moniker.
- Vozinha’s 2026 World Cup clean sheet vs. Spain preserved a 0‑0 draw.
- Vozinha’s social media reach exploded from 50k to 17.4m followers.
For more on how football legends become science stars, check out the original research paper.
Published 10 July 2026 – SnapScope, bringing science news to your fingertips.
