In brief
A new species of red sea slug, Aldisa vozinha, has been named after Cape Verde’s celebrated goalkeeper, João `Vozinha` Almeida. The mollusc was discovered by biologist Jesus Ortea in the Caribbean and the name honours Vozinha’s heroic performance in the 0‑0 World Cup draw with Spain. Ortea links the creature’s vibrant red colour to the national team’s nickname, La Roja, and cites Vozinha’s pivotal role in Cape Verde’s historic 2026 World Cup run. This follows Ortea’s earlier practice of naming marine discoveries after footballers, such as Spain’s Keylor Navas and club legend Quini.
New species names Portugal’s goalkeeper voice in biology
Cape Verde captain João `Vozinha` Almeida has earned a unique honour: a brand‑new species of sea slug has been christened after him. Biologist Jesus Ortea, who discovered the tiny, red‑clawed mollusc in Caribbean waters, chose the name Aldisa vozinha to celebrate the 40‑year‑old keeper’s World Cup heroics.
Vozinha’s performance against Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup – a dramatic 0‑0 draw that kept the tiny island nation’s defence shine through – earned critics worldwide acclaim. Ortea noted that the slug’s vivid red hue was a nod to the “rojo” nickname of Spain’s national team and, symbolically, to the defender’s triumphant championship‑point for Cape Verde.
In an outline of his discovery he wrote, “The red colour of the dedicated species is a reminder of his feat.” The naming also mirrors Ortea’s previous habit of honouring footballers: a Costa Rican creature was named after former Real Madrid‑star Keylor Navas, and a species matching Sporting Gijón’s colours was dedicated to ex‑striker Quini.
Vozinha’s fame snowballed during the 2026 match; his Instagram following surged from 50,000 to 17.4 million, eclipsing even NFL legend Tom Brady. The veteran researcher who earned a Medal of Merit for his work in Cape Verde’s marine waters in 2023 now continues to map its biodiversity while celebrating the island’s sporting triumphs.
