Cape Verde Goalkeeper Vozinha Honored with New Marine Species Name

Cape Verde national team goalkeeper Vozinha received a unique honor after his remarkable display at the 2026 World Cup, when a Spanish researcher named a newly discovered marine mollusk species after him.

The Athletic reported that Spanish scientist Jesús Ortía assigned the name Aldisa Vozinhai to a small red sea snail measuring no more than four millimeters, found in Caribbean waters near Cuba and Guadeloupe.

Ortía explained that his choice was not only due to the veteran goalkeeper's impressive World Cup performance but also in recognition of Vozinha's special connection to the Cape Verde islands. In 2023, Vozinha was awarded an environmental merit medal for his contributions to marine biodiversity studies in the archipelago.

This was not the first time Ortía honored a footballer in this way; in 2019, he named another marine mollusk species after Costa Rican goalkeeper Keylor Navas.

During the 2026 World Cup, Vozinha stood out as the oldest player to represent Cape Verde in their debut World Cup appearance at age 40. He kept clean sheets against Spain and Saudi Arabia and delivered an exceptional performance against Argentina, despite Cape Verde's exit in the round of 32.

The veteran goalkeeper also gained global attention during the tournament, with his Instagram followers soaring from 50,000 to 28.6 million, making him one of the most prominent figures both on and off the field at the 2026 World Cup.