Spanish biologist names newly discovered sea slug after Cape Verde World Cup hero Vozinha

A new species for a goalkeeping hero

Spanish biologist Jesus Ortea has named a newly discovered sea slug after Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha, whose performances at the 2026 World Cup captivated millions. The tiny red mollusc, about four millimetres long, was found during research in the Caribbean near Havana, Cuba, and the island of Guadeloupe. Ortea published the discovery in his work Historias de la Bioadversidad (Biodiversity Stories) to coincide with the tournament, acknowledging the goalkeeper's role in his country's debut match against Spain.

We have chosen the name vozinha in honour of Vozinha... who played a prominent role in his country's World Cup debut against The Reds (Spain). The colouration of the species is intended as a tribute to that achievement.

The species is formally named Aldisa vozinha and its colour pays homage to Spain's "La Roja" nickname. Ortea, professor emeritus at the University of Oviedo, has previously named marine discoveries after footballers, including former Costa Rica and Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas and iconic Sporting Gijon striker Quini.

Vozinha's standout World Cup

Vozinha, aged 40, became the oldest player to feature in a nation's debut World Cup match when Cape Verde faced Spain, the European champions, in the group stage. He made seven crucial saves to secure a surprise 0-0 draw and later kept another clean sheet against Saudi Arabia. The goalkeeper's exploits helped the tiny West African archipelago reach the Round of 32, where Cape Verde pushed defending champions Argentina to extra time before losing 3-2, with Vozinha again recording seven saves.

His Instagram following exemplifies the scale of his impact. Before his first World Cup appearance, his account had 50,000 followers; by 11 July 2026, that figure had soared to 28.5 million.

National pride and a new generation

Cape Verde, with a population of around 500,000, became the least populous country ever to reach the knockout stage of a World Cup. The squad, nicknamed the Blue Sharks, was met by flag-waving crowds upon returning to the capital Praia. At the city's Bola Pra Frente Academy, founded in 2010, around 240 young players aged between four and 17 now see the national team's run as a blueprint for their own ambitions.

Silveria Nedio, head coach at the academy and of the women's national team, described the mood: "The future of football in Cape Verde, both women's and men's, is strong -- it is big."

A biologist's footballing taxonomy

Ortea, a 75-year-old professor with extensive fieldwork in Cape Verdean waters, was awarded the nation's Medal of Environmental Merit in 2023. His decision to link marine biodiversity with football is not new: in 2019 he named a sea snail after Keylor Navas, and earlier he honoured the late striker Quini. The latest tribute cements an unusual tradition in which science and sport intersect, with a tiny slug now commemorating a World Cup surprise.