Following his remarkable performance during the World Cup, Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha has received a unique tribute: a newly identified sea snail species now bears his name. The tiny red mollusk was found in the Caribbean by biologist Jesus Ortea, who decided to honor the 40-year-old athlete after witnessing his impressive work for his national team.
Cape Verde made history as the second-smallest nation to compete in a World Cup final tournament. During their journey, they managed to hold European champions Spain to a scoreless draw, a match defined by Vozinha’s ability to stop seven attempts on goal. Ortea noted that the snail’s red hue serves as a tribute to that specific achievement against the team famously nicknamed La Roja, or The Red One.
Vozinha’s international profile surged following these displays, with his social media following growing to over 17 million. This is not the first time Ortea, a professor emeritus at the University of Oviedo, has linked his biological research to his love of football. He previously named a creature after Costa Rican goalkeeper Keylor Navas and another after the legendary Sporting Gijon forward Quini. In 2023, the government of Cape Verde recognized Ortea’s scientific contributions to their waters by awarding him a Medal of Merit.
