Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha has received a unique honour, with a newly discovered species of sea slug being named after him.
The recognition comes after the 40-year-old’s prominent role in Cape Verde’s World Cup campaign. Vozinha made seven saves against Spain to preserve a clean sheet during the tournament.
A Unique Honour for the Cape Verde Star
The small red mollusc was discovered by biologist Jesus Ortea in the Caribbean. He opted to name the new species after the Cape Verde star, and it now has the name Aldisa vozinha.
In a report outlining his discovery, Ortea said he wanted to mark Vozinha’s “prominent role” in the World Cup. The biologist also pointed out that Vozinha’s heroics came against a team nicknamed La Roja, which means The Red One.
Ortea’s report added that the red colour of the dedicated species serves as a reminder of Vozinha’s feat. The honour for the goalkeeper adds to the plaudits he has received across the globe for his performances with Cape Verde.
World Cup Heroics and Global Recognition
Cape Verde are the second smallest nation ever to reach the World Cup finals. The team came through the group stage of the competition.
They took holders Argentina all the way before exiting the tournament with a 3-2 extra-time defeat in the last 32. Before then, Vozinha’s heroics had seen them claim their first World Cup point.
This point was secured in a goalless draw with European champions Spain. Vozinha’s performance in that game saw his fame explode overnight.
His 50,000 Instagram followers ballooned to 17.4 million, which is more than athletes such as NFL legend Tom Brady.
Biologist’s Passion for Football and Science
The biologist responsible for the naming, Jesus Ortea, is a professor emeritus at the University of Oviedo. He was awarded a Medal of Merit by the island nation of Cape Verde in 2023.
This award recognised his work in the waters around Cape Verde. Ortea, who is 75 years old and a football fan, has combined his passions on previous occasions.
Ortea previously named a discovery found in Costa Rica after Keylor Navas, who was the country’s former goalkeeper. Navas also played for Real Madrid, Paris St-Germain, and Nottingham Forest.
Additionally, a tiny creature which had the same colours as Spanish side Sporting Gijon was named after the club’s former striker, Quini.
The naming of Aldisa vozinha represents another instance of biologist Jesus Ortea honouring football figures through his scientific discoveries.