Sea snail named Aldisa vozinha in honor of Cape Verde keeper

A newly discovered species of sea snail now bears the name Aldisa vozinha, honoring Cape Verde's goalkeeper Vozinha for his standout performance in the World Cup. Spanish biologist Jesus Ortea, a self-proclaimed soccer fan, made the discovery in the Caribbean and chose the name to coincide with the tournament.

Ortea announced the naming of the tiny, bright red mollusk, stating, "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)." He added that the species' coloration serves as a tribute to Vozinha's achievement.

Vozinha, 40, emerged as one of the tournament's breakout stars, significantly contributing to Cape Verde's journey to the Round of 32. He notably impressed in a dramatic extra-time loss against eventual champions Argentina.

This is not the first time Ortea, a professor emeritus at the University of Oviedo, has honored athletes through his scientific work. His previous discoveries have been named after former Costa Rica and Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas, and the legendary Spanish striker Quini.

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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.